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Scorching temperatures across Europe coupled with prolonged dry weather has reduced French nuclear power generation by around 5.2 gigawatts (GW) or 8%, French power grid operator RTE’s data showed on Thursday.
Electricity output was curtailed at six reactors by 0840 GMT on Thursday, while two other reactors were offline, data showed. High water temperatures and sluggish flows limit the ability to use river water to cool reactors.
In Germany, PreussenElektra, the nuclear unit of utility E.ON, said it would take its Grohnde reactor offline on Friday due to high temperatures in the Weser river.
Interesting impact of the recent heat wave, right when electrical demand is on the rise.
Previously: Records Tumble as Europe Swelters in Heatwave and the Forecast Isn't Any Better
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Sunday July 28 2019, @06:17PM
My guess is that nuclear plants are generally more expensive, so they tend to build them bigger (this is the case in America, at least). So instead a bunch of smaller plants scattered all around on various different rivers, you have just a few big-ass nuclear plants, so the output heat is more concentrated.