Three nuclear reactors were temporarily shut down on Sunday by France’s state-owned energy company EDF, which also issued a warning that seven more reactors would need to modify their power production due to the ongoing heatwave.
The corporation claims that the action is necessary to protect the environment by preventing the release of overly hot water into rivers that are already warming due to the heatwave. Before sending the heated water back into rivers, nuclear power facilities use river water to cool their reactors.
Nuclear safety is not at stake. Reactors can function in high-temperature environments. According to an EDF representative, these restrictions are meant to save aquatic plants and animals. Three nuclear reactors—Unit 2 at Golfech (1,300 MW), Unit 3 at Bugey (900 MW), and Unit 2 at Chooz (1,450 MW)—are presently offline, according to EDF. The capacity of the three offline reactors alone is 3.65GW, or nearly 6% of France’s deployed nuclear fleet of about 61GW.
EDF responded that nuclear reactors can maximize generation while staying within legal bounds when questioned about the lacking capacity. Bugey Unit 3 will be offline until July 19, Golfech Unit 2 until July 22, and Chooz Unit 2 until July 25, according to the most recent weather projections.
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