en.Wedoany.com Reported - The European heatwave has imposed local restrictions on the operation of French nuclear power plants, primarily affecting plants that rely on rivers for reactor cooling, such as Golfech, Bugey, and Nogent-sur-Seine. The issue is not nuclear safety, but environmental constraints: when river water temperatures become too high, Électricité de France (EDF) must reduce reactor power or even shut down units to avoid discharging overheated water back into the environment. At Golfech, one unit was shut down due to high water temperatures in the Garonne River; at Bugey and Nogent-sur-Seine, shutdowns or power reductions have also occurred due to rising temperatures in the Rhône and Seine rivers. Saint-Alban and Blayais are also under scrutiny as they face similar hydrological constraints. Currently, 75% of France's electricity comes from nuclear power plants.

Despite these restrictions, France is not experiencing an electricity crisis. French grid operator RTE assesses that power supply security remains assured. The most immediate impact is a decline in France's electricity export capacity, putting some pressure on European electricity prices, as France is typically a major nuclear power exporter. However, there is no indication of safety risks to the reactors or a direct threat to the national power supply. This heatwave highlights the importance of adapting nuclear power plants to climate change, particularly in terms of water resources, environmental thermal limits, and the resilience of the power system during extreme periods.

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