France’s leading energy provider EDF has temporarily shut down two nuclear reactors and reduced output at others as soaring temperatures from a record-breaking heatwave threaten river ecosystems.
The decision was taken to comply with environmental regulations that limit the temperature of water discharged into rivers used to cool nuclear power plants. EDF announced on Thursday that reactors at the Nogent-sur-Seine plant on the Seine River and the Bugey facility on the Rhone River near Lyon had been taken offline.
Earlier this week, the company had already reduced production at another reactor at Nogent-sur-Seine to minimise the temperature difference between water drawn from and returned to the Seine, helping protect aquatic life.
France relies heavily on river water to cool its nuclear reactors. During periods of extreme heat, warmer river temperatures can restrict plant operations because the release of heated cooling water could further harm fish and other wildlife.
The latest measures follow the shutdown of a reactor at the Golfech Nuclear Plant on the Garonne River in southwestern France on Monday, while output has also been lowered at several other sites.
France, where nuclear power accounted for nearly 70 per cent of electricity generation last year, is among the European countries most affected by the ongoing heatwave.
Despite the temporary disruptions, electricity supply remains secure. French grid operator RTE said the country has sufficient generating capacity to meet demand even if some production facilities are taken offline.
