France temporarily shuts down three nuclear reactors over heatwave
EDF said 3 reactors were shut and 8 others cut output as France’s heatwave pushed river temperatures higher.
- On Sunday, France's energy provider EDF temporarily shut down three nuclear reactors and reduced power at eight others due to the heatwave sweeping the country.
- Reactors at the Golfech, Bugey, and Chooz plants, located on the banks of the Garonne, Rhone, and Meuse rivers, were stopped to comply with cooling water discharge regulations and protect the environment.
- More than 25 million people in France faced temperatures reaching up to 41C during the third heatwave since May, a crisis scientists have linked to climate change.
- The government issued an exemption on Saturday regarding temperature limits for the Rhone around the Bugey plant "to ensure the security of the power grid," valid until July 20.
- Wildfires have proliferated while the heatwave forced PARIS tourist landmarks to close early and caused event cancellations, including a shortened stage on the Tour.
76 Articles
76 Articles
A further eight reactors have had their operations reduced.
In France, as part of environmental measures due to the intensifying heatwave, three nuclear reactors have been shut down and eight others have been switched to low-power mode.
France shuts down nuclear reactors as heatwave intensifies
France's state-owned energy group EDF has temporarily shut down three nuclear reactors, while seven others could be operating at reduced power. France's largest electricity producer said the move was required to comply with environmental regulations.
In the current heat wave, the cooling water from the power plants heats up rivers too much.
Seven more nuclear power plants have been throttled to prevent too much warm cooling water from being discharged into the already warmer rivers.
France Cuts 6.4 GW of Nuclear Power as Heatwave Grips the Country
France’s nuclear power generation was slashed by 6.4 gigawatts (GW) on Monday amid a prolonged and intense heatwave that hiked river temperatures and limited the ability of the power plants to use the water to cool reactors. As many as eight reactors in France, which is Europe’s leader in nuclear power generation, were forced to curtail power output, according to data from the plants’ operator EDF and grid operator RTE cited by Reuters. The 6.4 …
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