Key facts
- EDF has temporarily shut down two nuclear reactors due to rising river temperatures.
- The shutdowns are a precautionary environmental measure to protect aquatic ecosystems.
- The affected reactors are at the Nogent-sur-Seine and Bugey plants.
- France is experiencing a record-breaking heatwave with temperatures reaching historic highs.
- Despite the outages, French grid operator RTE confirmed sufficient generation capacity.
France's state-owned energy giant EDF has temporarily shut down two nuclear reactors as a precautionary environmental measure amid a record-breaking heatwave. The reactors at the Nogent-sur-Seine plant on the Seine River and the Bugey facility on the Rhone River were taken offline due to rising water temperatures. EDF is legally required to monitor these temperatures to prevent harm to aquatic ecosystems. Nuclear plants use river water for cooling, and during heatwaves, operators must reduce output to comply with discharge temperature limits.
This measure comes as France grapples with extreme heat, which has already caused at least 18 confirmed heat-related deaths and hundreds of school closures across Europe. Météo-France reported that Tuesday, June 23, was the hottest day recorded since measurements began in 1947. Despite the nuclear reactor shutdowns, French grid operator RTE stated that the country has sufficient generation capacity to meet electricity demand.
The heatwave is impacting multiple European countries, including Germany, Spain, Portugal, and Switzerland, leading to reduced train services and daily life disruptions. Scientists note that parts of Europe are experiencing significantly more days of extreme heat stress compared to previous decades, exacerbating the strain on energy grids.