Paris [France], July 3 (ANI): A scorching heatwave sweeping across Europe has forced several nuclear power plants in France and Switzerland to either scale back operations or shut down entirely, as rising temperatures have compromised the ability of these facilities to safely use local river water for cooling, Euro News reported.
Nuclear plants typically draw water from nearby rivers or seas to cool reactors, discharging it back at higher temperatures. But amid Europe’s ongoing heatwave, river water is already unusually warm, making it less effective for cooling and posing risks to local ecosystems if returned at even hotter temperatures.
Axpo, which operates Switzerland’s Beznau nuclear power plant, confirmed it had shut down one of its reactors on Tuesday, while running a second unit at reduced capacity. “Due to the high river water temperatures, Axpo has been increasingly reducing the output of the two reactor units at the Beznau nuclear power plant for days and reduced it to 50 per cent on Sunday,” the operator said in a statement.
Although Switzerland has committed to phasing out nuclear power by 2033, existing reactors are allowed to continue operating as long as they meet safety standards, according to Euro News.
France, which remains heavily reliant on nuclear energy, has also curtailed output at some plants. So far, however, the impact on the French power grid has been limited, despite higher demand for electricity as buildings rely more on air conditioning to cope with the heatwave.
Experts warn that such challenges will likely become more frequent as climate change drives global temperatures higher, with peak energy consumption during heatwaves expected to rise. (ANI)
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