Key facts
- Three reactors at France's Gravelines nuclear power plant were shut down.
- A massive influx of jellyfish blocked cooling systems at the Gravelines plant.
- The Gravelines plant experienced a jellyfish-related shutdown on August 11 for the second consecutive year.
- France's day-ahead power prices surged 21.8%.
- Day-ahead power prices reached $164.39 per megawatt hour.
- A heatwave is curbing nuclear generation.
- EDF will cut nuclear output by 7.3 GW on Wednesday.
- Low river water levels are impacting cooling for nuclear reactors.
France's nuclear power infrastructure is experiencing dual challenges, leading to significant disruptions and price increases. On August 11, three reactors at the Gravelines nuclear power plant were forced offline due to a massive influx of jellyfish. These marine organisms blocked the plant's cooling systems, necessitating the shutdown. This event marks the second consecutive year that jellyfish have caused a shutdown at the Gravelines plant on the same date.