Heatwave: Three French nuclear reactors shut down, eight others operating at reduced capacity

EDF announced on Sunday the shutdown of three nuclear reactors located on riverbanks. This decision comes as an intense heatwave grips France, raising river temperatures to critical levels. The affected sites are located on the Rhône, Garonne, and Meuse rivers. The French energy company also announced that eight other reactors are now operating at reduced power.

Measures to protect aquatic ecosystems

These measures aim to limit the release of heat into rivers and streams. When nuclear power plants generate electricity, they use water from these waterways to cool their facilities. The heated water is then released back into the environment. The current heatwave complicates this process: river temperatures are already rising naturally, and any additional discharge could seriously disrupt aquatic ecosystems.

Slowing down or temporarily shutting down reactors is a common practice during summer heat waves. However, domestic electricity production experiences a significant drop, which is offset by other energy sources and import capacity. Authorities are closely monitoring temperature developments in the coming days to determine the duration of these restrictions.