· 2 min read
illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Amid a severe heatwave across Europe, nuclear power plants in France and Switzerland have been forced to shut down or reduce output due to high river temperatures, which are no longer effective for cooling the reactors
• This has led to significant adjustments in energy production, with France’s EDF shutting down several reactors, including the Golfech plant, due to the risk of releasing dangerously hot water into local rivers
🔭 The context: Nuclear power plants rely on cooling systems that use river or sea water, but during heatwaves, water temperatures rise to levels that make this process unsustainable and harmful to local ecosystems
• In Switzerland, the Beznau plant has reduced its output as river temperatures reached 25°C, and France’s nuclear plants in the south also faced shutdowns due to fears of overheating local water sources
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The reliance on nuclear power for a significant portion of energy production in both France and Switzerland highlights the vulnerability of energy infrastructure to climate change
• With more frequent and intense heatwaves expected as global temperatures rise, energy systems worldwide may face greater pressures, impacting both production capacities and environmental sustainability
⏭️ What's next: While the impact on France's overall energy grid has been limited so far, experts warn that increasing peaks in energy demand during heatwaves will become more common, stressing the need for resilient energy systems
• This incident may prompt further discussions about adapting nuclear energy infrastructure to cope with the intensifying effects of climate change
💬 One quote: “Despite the reduction in nuclear power production, France produces more electricity than it consumes, as it currently exports electricity to neighbouring countries,” — RTE, France's grid operator
📈 One stat: France obtains approximately 65% of its electricity from nuclear energy, making it highly reliant on these plants for power generation
See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance of France’s EDF and Swiss nuclear plants in the context of climate change adaptation.
Click for more news covering the energy transition and climate impacts across Europe.
