The River Could Heat Up... France's Nuclear Plants Shut Down Amid Heat Wave

[Financial News] An unprecedented heat wave has swept across France, putting the operation of nuclear power plants, a key source of the country's electricity, under strain.
On the 12th local time, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that EDF, France's largest state-owned power company, had temporarily shut down three reactors and reduced output at eight others because of the ongoing heat wave.
In a statement, EDF said it took the measures to comply with regulations on cooling water discharge in response to severe weather and to protect the environment. As a result, reactors at the Golfech, Bugey and Chooz nuclear plants, located in the Garonne River, Rhône River and Meuse River basins, respectively, were brought to a halt.
The move follows environmental rules designed to prevent nuclear cooling water from flowing into already overheated rivers and pushing water temperatures to dangerous levels.
In general, nuclear plants use nearby river water to cool their reactors and then discharge the warmed water back into the river. But when already overheated river water is combined with hot cooling water during a heat wave, it can cause severe damage to river ecosystems.
As the situation worsened, the French Ministry of the Economy issued an emergency order on the 11th to temporarily ease water temperature restrictions on the Rhône River near the Bugey nuclear plant until the 20th, in order to ensure the stability of the power grid.
This is the second time in recent weeks that EDF has halted nuclear plant operations because of extreme heat. France also suspended nuclear operations in June amid record-breaking heat that set the highest temperatures ever recorded.
With this heat wave, the third to hit the country since May, more than one-third of France has been placed under the highest-level heat alert issued by the national weather service.
According to AFP's analysis of population data, more than 25 million people, or 37% of France's population, are now exposed to deadly heat approaching 41 degrees Celsius.
The sudden heat wave is paralyzing French society as a whole. Major tourist attractions have closed early, a series of cultural and sporting events have been canceled, and certain stages of the Tour de France have been shortened. Dry weather has also triggered a spate of large wildfires, while drowning accidents have surged as people try to escape the heat.


jjyoon@fnnews.com Yoon Jae-jun Reporter