A huge dome has been lifted on to the second nuclear reactor at Somerset's Hinkley Point C nuclear plant.
The Bridgwater-based power station, the first to be built in Britain in 30 years, is set to provide six million British homes with zero-carbon electricity when finished.
The 245-tonne dome was lifted into place by a giant crane - dubbed 'Big Carl' - and closed the 44-metre-high reactor building, which will now be fitted out internally.
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Work on Unit 2 was stopped during the pandemic, with the second dome lifted 18 months after the first. However, according to French-owned energy giant EDF, the second unit will take less time to build than the first after parts were prefabricated in factories on and off-site.
Stuart Crooks, chief executive of Hinkley Point C, said: “Restarting the industry has been hard, but the second of our two identical units shows the big benefits of repeating an identical design. Build and Repeat is the best way to build new nuclear with time savings already at 20-30%. All our experience and innovation will benefit Sizewell C from the start.”
Energy minister Michael Shanks added: “Hinkley Point C will deliver the next generation of clean, homegrown nuclear power, creating high quality jobs and growth in Somerset and across its supply chains.
"The government is ending years of delays to usher in a golden age of new nuclear, with funding for Sizewell C and SMRs, protecting family finances and boosting our energy security.”
The announcement comes just days after Somerset Council confirmed that extra parking spaces for Hinkley Point C workers would be made available near a local rugby club.
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The workforce at Hinkley Point C is expected to reach its peak in the next 18 months, with an estimated 15,000 individuals working on the construction between 2026 and 2028.
Over the last few years, the project has been hampered by delays and financial issues. The scheme was originally estimated to cost £18bn, but has struggled with its schedule and last year EDF confirmed its .