Arabelle Turbines Selected for Sizewell C

The United Kingdom has taken another decisive step in its nuclear revival. Last July, the British government gave the green light to the financing plan for Sizewell C. On October 3, it was announced that Arabelle turbines, designed and manufactured by Arabelle Solutions, a subsidiary of EDF, had been selected to equip the site’s two EPR reactors.

With Sizewell C, the United Kingdom is building its next two EPR reactors, identical to those at Hinkley Point C. Located on the Suffolk coast, the site will ultimately produce 3.2 GW of low-carbon electricity — a capacity made possible both by the EPR reactor design and by the Arabelle turbines that will power the two units.

Arabelle Solutions already supplies the turbines for Hinkley Point C’s two EPR units, which are currently under construction. The choice for Sizewell C thus follows a strategy of industrial replication, building on the experience gained from the first project to optimize design, manufacturing, and commissioning.

“We are proud to contribute to this major project and to extend our partnership with EDF and Sizewell C,” said Catherine Cornand, CEO of Arabelle Solutions.
“Having Arabelle Solutions with us once again is a guarantee of trust and efficiency,” added Nigel Cann, Deputy CEO of Sizewell C.

Machines of exceptional power

Each turbine hall at Sizewell C will host an Arabelle turbine featuring a rotor nearly 70 meters long, consisting of a high-pressure module, an intermediate-pressure module, and three low-pressure modules. The turbines will be fitted with 75-inch blades — the longest ever manufactured.

The Revue Générale Nucléaire’s report on the Arabelle Solutions factory already described these turbines as “power giants adorned with lace,” a nod to how their design combines the finest mechanical precision with the strength needed to withstand decades of continuous operation.

Financing now secured

This announcement comes just weeks after the UK government approved the project’s financing model, designed to attract private investors while keeping costs under control for consumers. This financial green light has paved the way for contracts with the project’s main industrial partners, including Arabelle Solutions. ■