France’s state vitality group EDF on Sunday quickly shut down three of its nuclear reactors, whereas warning that seven others might have to regulate their output as the warmth wave continues to grip the nation.
The corporate mentioned the measure is an environmental safety requirement to keep away from releasing extra scorching water into rivers which can be already warming as a result of heatwave.
Nuclear energy vegetation use river water to chill the reactor and return the heated water to the river.
An EDF spokesperson mentioned: “There are not any security dangers with nuclear energy. Nuclear reactors can function beneath excessive temperature circumstances. These restrictions are aimed toward defending aquatic natural world.”
EDF mentioned three reactors are presently shut down: Golfek Unit 2 (1,300 MW), Bugay Unit 3 (900 MW) and Choos Unit 2 (1,450 MW). The three offline reactors alone account for a capability of three.65 GW, which is roughly 6% of France’s roughly 61 GW of put in nuclear energy vegetation.
In response to a query in regards to the lacking capability, EDF mentioned the reactor might optimize energy era whereas remaining inside laws.
Based mostly on the most recent climate forecasts, Bugey 3 is presently scheduled to be shut down till July nineteenth, Golfech 2 till July twenty second, and Chooz 2 till July twenty fifth.
The schedule and length of those environmentally pushed reactor shutdowns will likely be adjusted in response to modifications within the climate forecast.
“The opposite seven reactors can also must adapt to fluctuating output all through the day,” an EDF spokesperson mentioned.
The Financial system Ministry introduced on Saturday an exemption till July 20 from temperature limits for heating the Rhône River close to the Bouger energy station “to make sure the security of the facility grid.”
Put together for the upcoming warmth wave
Greater than a 3rd of France was positioned beneath the Nationwide Climate Service’s highest warmth alert on Sunday because the nation was hit by its third warmth wave since Could.
It’s the second time in latest weeks that EDF has needed to shut down a nuclear reactor as a result of excessive warmth, after a file heatwave hit France in June.
EDF advised Euronews that the influence of drought and heatwaves on nuclear energy era stays very restricted. “Since 2000, manufacturing losses as a result of excessive river water temperatures and weak river flows have on common amounted to 0.3% of the annual electrical energy manufacturing of the French nuclear fleet.”
Seeking to the longer term, EDF mentioned it has adaptation plans to arrange for the results of local weather change, masking its nuclear, hydropower and island vitality operations in France. The corporate mentioned it revealed in early 2026 that the estimated value of the plan was €8.7 billion over the following 15 years.
The plan consists of measures to enhance the resilience of nuclear energy era during times of utmost warmth. An EDF spokesperson mentioned one choice being thought-about is to chill the water discharged from the prevailing cooling tower blowdown course of earlier than it’s launched into the setting. A spokesperson mentioned such a system is already in operation on the Thibault nuclear energy plant.
For hydropower initiatives, EDF focuses on enhancing flood administration, sustaining energy era throughout low river flows, and supporting the multipurpose use of water sources.
The corporate is strengthening excessive, medium and low voltage energy networks throughout the island’s vitality system, whereas additionally growing its preparedness for distinctive wind energy era that would disrupt the facility infrastructure.
