Above, Romanian nuclear plant now closed completely due to drought dry Danube. Nuclear power plants are generally reliable, except when they are not.
Meanwhile, blazing sun continues to beat down on all of Europe in yet another oppressive heat dome. (hint, hint)
Oh, well, at least the plants using sea water will still function…Doh!
Below, climate warmed waters with an altogether unhealthy explosion of jellyfish have clogged French nuclear reactors.
A “massive influx” of jellyfish has forced Electricite de France SA to shut three units at its Gravelines nuclear power plant and reduce output at a fourth, curbing power supply at a time when extremely hot weather is boosting demand.
That’s taken some 3.2 gigawatts of capacity offline, with parts of the country forecast to see temperatures near 40C in the coming days.
A series of heat waves have scorched Europe this summer. Unusually high temperatures off the coast of France can cause jellyfish populations to “bloom.” Pumping stations for coastal nuclear plants like Gravelines usually draw in seawater for cooling, sometimes exposing them to marine life.
