A record-breaking summer of drought and extreme heat is forcing nuclear power plants across Europe offline, compounding the continent energy supply crisis as it heads into winter with historically low gas reserves.
Romania disconnected both reactors at its Cernavoda nuclear power plant from the grid after the Danube River fell to levels not seen in over 30 years. The plant normally generates roughly one-fifth of the country electricity, and its loss has forced Romania to increase reliance on power imports while electricity prices surge amid heatwave-driven demand.
Hungary Paks Plant Faces Unprecedented Shutdown
Hungary Paks nuclear power plant, the country sole nuclear facility and source of nearly 40 percent of its electricity, was forced to reduce output to just 240 megawatts from its normal 2,000-megawatt capacity. Prime Minister Peter Magyar warned the plant could be completely shut down for the first time in 44 years as the Danube water level continued to recede.
Due to the further drop in the Danube water level, one of the last two generating units will be shut down. As a result, the plant output will fall to just 240 megawatts, and tomorrow it will be completely shut down for the first time in 44 years.
HungaroMet, Hungary national weather service, forecast highs exceeding 40 degrees Celsius over the coming days, with a 42-degree peak expected that would match the country all-time temperature record.
France Hit by Jellyfish and Heat Restrictions
In France, a massive swarm of jellyfish clogged the cooling-water intake system at the Gravelines nuclear power plant on the North Sea coast, triggering automatic safety shutdowns of four of its six reactors. The 5.4-gigawatt complex normally supplies electricity to roughly five million households.
Further south, EDF shut down the Golfech-2 reactor on the Garonne River as soaring river temperatures pushed cooling conditions beyond regulatory limits. Environmental regulations cap the temperature of water discharged back into rivers, forcing reactors to reduce output or shut down entirely when ambient water temperatures are already elevated.
Switzerland Beznau plant on the Aare River has also cycled between full shutdowns and 50 percent power cuts over the past month after river temperatures reached the 25-degree regulatory threshold.
Fourth Heatwave Threatens Further Disruptions
Meteorologists warn a fourth major heatwave is forecast to hit Western Europe in the coming days, with temperatures expected to soar above 40 degrees Celsius across the Iberian Peninsula and France, potentially reaching 45 degrees in some areas. The system is expected to spread eastward across Central Europe, from western Germany to Italy, Hungary and the northern Balkans.
A report from Dutch bank Triodos estimated the economic impact of Europe extreme summer at approximately 207.7 billion euros, or roughly 1 percent of EU GDP. Up to 15 percent of France nuclear portfolio was expected to be forced offline at peak impact.
The nuclear shutdowns arrive as Europe faces a compounding energy crisis. Gas storage levels sit at just 60 percent of capacity, well below the 90 percent target set for November, while LNG imports have fallen to 22-month lows due to disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz.
Sources: CNBC; OilPrice.com; New Scientist; Le Monde; Down to Earth; Reuters
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