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France Limits Nuclear Output at Three Plants but Grants Heatwave Exemption at Bugey
France's main energy provider shut down three reactors and reduced output at eight others on July 12 to meet environmental regulations during a heatwave. The Economy Ministry granted a temporary exemption for one plant to maintain grid security.
Jul 12, 11:29 AM·1m read3 sources
Environment firsGrid security
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EDF shut down three nuclear reactors on July 12 at the Golfech, Bugey and Chooz plants. The company said the action complied with regulations limiting the temperature of cooling water discharged into rivers. The plants sit on the Garonne, Rhône and Meuse rivers.
Eight additional reactors operated at reduced power the same day because of the heat. The Economy Ministry issued an exemption on July 11 allowing the Bugey plant to exceed normal temperature limits on the Rhône until July 20. The ministry said the waiver was granted to maintain grid security.
This marks the second time in recent weeks that EDF has curtailed nuclear output because of extreme heat, after similar measures during a June heatwave. On July 12 more than a third of France remained under the national weather service's highest heat alert, with more than 25 million people facing temperatures that could reach 41°C. The July 12 heatwave is the third to affect France since May.
One stage of the Tour de France was shortened because of the conditions.
