France, Switzerland close nuclear power stations due to heat wave

To cool off, nuclear power plants pump water from local rivers or seas, which are then released back into rivers or seas at a higher temperature.

However, the constant heat wave in Europe means that the water pumped by nuclear power plants is already very hot, affecting the ability of nuclear power plants to use it to cool off. Furthermore, nuclear power plants may pose a dangerous threat to local biodiversity by releasing very hot water into rivers and seas.

“Axpo” which operates the Beznau nuclear power plant in Switzerland said it had closed one of its reactors Tuesday, adding that a second reactor was operating with limited capacity.

Because of high river water temperatures, “Axpo” has increasingly reduced the production of two reactor units at the “Beznau” for days and reduced it to 50 percent Sunday”, the operator said.

Nuclear power plant reactors “Beznau” are located directly on the Aare River, where temperatures have reached 25 degrees Celsius in recent days, forcing Axpo to limit its activities to prevent “overheating of water, which is currently warm”, could harm local biodiversity.

Although Switzerland has decided to gradually remove nuclear energy by 2033, existing thermal power plants are able to continue operating as long as they are safe.

Meanwhile, on Monday, French power company EDF shut down the nuclear power plant “Golf”, located in the southern Tarn-Garone department, amid warnings of extreme heat in the region and concerns that the local river could heat up to 28 degrees.

France has a total of 57 active nuclear reactors in 18 thermal power plants. According to EDF, the country gets about 65% of its electricity from nuclear power, which the government considers friendly with the environment.

Production has been reduced in other countries, including nuclear power plant “Blayis” in western France, as well as the nuclear power plant “Bugey” in southern France, which can also be shut down, taking their cooling water from the Gironde and Rh pursuen rivers.

Although nuclear power production has had to be limited because of extreme heat, the impact on France's energy grid remains limited despite the fact that more electricity is being used to cool buildings and direct air - conditioning systems.

Speaking of broadcaster FranceInfo, French network operator RTE assured that “all nuclear power sites in operation are able to cover the needs of the French population. France produces more electricity than it consumes, as it currently exports electricity to neighbouring countries”.

However, experts predict peaks of energy consumption during heat waves will only become more frequent, while global temperatures continue to rise, Euronews writes. /Periscope/