High river temperatures to limit French nuclear power production

• 11 months ago (2023-07-13)
• David Flin

Europe 1068 Nuclear 643

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EDF has said that output restrictions are expected at two nuclear power plants along the Rhone river in eastern France due to high temperature forecasts. It said that the hot weather is likely to halve the available power supply from the 3.6 GW Bugey plant and the 2.6 GW Saint Alban plant from July 13 and July 16 respectively.

Data from Refinitiv suggest that water temperatures at the Bugey plant are forecast to peak by around 20 July, then drop again. Nathalie Gerl, analyst with Refinitiv, said: “France is currently net exporting large amounts of power. Single nuclear units’ supply restrictions will not have the same effect as last year.”