GE Power said it had begun manufacturing the first rotor for turbines that will be installed at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in Bridgewater, Somerset in England. When complete, the Arabelle steam turbines will be among the largest in the world, producing 1770 MWe each and coming in longer than the Airbus 380 model.
The Hinkley Point C plant is expected to produce 7 percent of Britain's domestic electricity generation, enough to power six million homes. It is expected to be operational by 2025, GE said.
In addition, it will enable the avoidance of nine million metric tons of CO2 emissions each year, according to GE's statement.
Arabelle turbine manufacturing is considered a critical milestone for the plant. GE is to provide two power islands for Hinkley Point C, including turbines, generators and other key components. The turbines are rated at a 99.96 percent reliability rate, GE said.
The company is also contracted to manufacture Arabelle steam turbines for the Akkuyu nuclear plant under construction in Turkey. Arabelle turbines are already in place at nuclear power plants in Taishan, China and in Chooz and Civaux in France.