The record temperatures are also a problem for nuclear power plants, that need the continuous influx of water to cool the reactors. The heat wave of recent weeks has endangered the operation of French nuclear power plants: on Friday, nuclear reactors were brought to 46% of their regime, compared to 47% last Wednesday.
French laws require energy companies to reduce the output of their power plants when certain temperatures are reached. Trivial because thewater used to cool nuclear power plants is then thrown back into the rivers, where – due to the weather – very high temperatures are already observed. The release of the water used to cool the reactors would lead to a further rise in temperature, with significant risks to the environment and wildlife.
l’EDFFrance’s largest energy company, has announced that it will be forced to cut power generation from the Rhone in the coming weeks. Same fate for the plant on the river Garonne. In Paris, it is expected to reach 38 degrees Celsius tomorrow.
The heat wave will have major consequences for the French energy market. France, traditionally an exporting country, will be forced for the first time in many years to import energy from abroad to meet its needs. Energy prices – already at the same level as a result of the war in Ukraine – will reach a new record.
According to the EDF, nuclear energy production will reach its lowest value in the past 30 years in 2022.
The sudden contraction of domestic production has led to a huge increase in energy costs: +18% in just seven days, for a total of about 500 € / MWh.
Source: Lega Nerd
