Finnish crane manufacturer Konecranes will continue its work at TerraPower’s Natrium reactor demonstration plant in Wyoming, USA, by supplying a fully customised 125-tonne hoist crane.
The small-scale nuclear plant, which has a capacity of 345 MW, is a project between Bill Gates’ TerraPower and GE-Hitachi.
The hoist crane, which includes a 15-tonne auxiliary hoist and a top-running overhead crane with dual trolleys, will be used at the site’s test and fill facility (TFF) for maintenance and production support. The TFF is a non-nuclear facility designed to store the approximately 400,000 gallons (1,818,439.7 litres) of sodium needed for the reactor’s coolant system.
Bechtel is operating as TerraPower’s engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) partner on this project.
“We have a longstanding partnership with Bechtel on clean energy projects dating back to the 1930s with the construction of the Hoover Dam and the use of P&H cranes, which are now part of Konecranes,” said Andrew Grooms, regional sales manager, Konecranes nuclear equipment and service.
The crane’s dual trolley design allows for synchronised operation of both trolleys and hoists, maximising precision and efficiency in material handling. Its main hoist has an 86 ft (26.2 m) reach and an auxillary hoist with a 136 ft (41.5 m) reach.
Konecranes has been providing technical guidance and crane designs for the project since 2021, and delivery and installation of the crane system are planned for autumn 2025.
