This week’s scorching temperatures, over 40°C in many parts of the country, led EDF to close down production at the Golfech (Tarn-et-Garonne) and Tricastin (Drôme) nuclear power plants.
Nuclear reactors need large amounts of water to cool them down and around two thirds of France’s 58 reactors get their water supplies from nearby rivers. Once the cooling done, the warmed water is discharged back into the river. But recent droughts have lowered water levels in the Garonne and Rhône and the heatwave has increased the temperature of the water.
EDF followed French regulations which stipulate that in order to protect plant and animal life, power generation must be cut when water temperatures go above 28°C or when river levels and flow rate are low. But the electricity giant insisted there would be no impact on power supply. …….
t the risk of power cuts would increase if temperatures reach what is known as “grand chaud” (high heat) in the French nuclear power industry when the reactor is no longer considered safe enough to run.
“Electricity generation through reactors is threatened by heatwaves, especially those on rivers as is the case in France where two thirds are on rivers,” Marignac explains. “If heatwaves are more intense and frequent, in the range of 45°C and lasting for some days, there’s also risk of failure of equipment due to “grand chaud”.
“We’re not up to that yet, but as climate science tells us there’s going to be more heatwaves and they could be longer and they could be warmer that means we could get to that point in coming years and decades.”……
anti-nuclear groups like Sortir du Nucléaire (exit nuclear) have seized on the latest heatwave to show “nuclear is vulnerable to climate change”. What’s more they claim “it won’t save the climate” because it does, for example, produce greenhouse gases through its waste management, building of nuclear plants and processes for mining and refining uranium ore.
“Continuing this dangerous adventure is no longer an option,” states the non-profit…….. http://en.rfi.fr/france/20190726-frances-nuclear-electricity-generation-threatened-heatwaves
France’s nuclear electricity production ‘threatened by heatwaves’, Rfi, 27 July 19, By RFI with Alison Hird French electricity giant EDF closed down nuclear reactors at two plants in the south of France this week due to the heatwave. Supporters of nuclear power vaunt its role in de-carbonising energy production but can it still be an energy of the future if the future is likely to be hotter?
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