European Heat Wave Forces Brief Shutdowns of 4 French Nuclear Reactors
The French energy company EDF says the actions were taken to avoid overheating rivers and harming aquatic life.PARIS — As Europe struggles through a major heat wave, the French energy company EDF says it has halted a fourth nuclear reactor, this time one at the country’s oldest nuclear plant at Fessenheim in eastern France.
In a statement, EDT said the Fessenheim nuclear reactor was temporarily shut down Saturday.
Since Thursday, four French nuclear reactors in three power plants near the Rhine and the Rhone Rivers, including Fessenheim, have had to be temporarily shut down. EDF said the decision was made to avoid overheating the rivers.
Nuclear power plants use water from the rivers to cool down the temperatures of their reactors before sending the water back into the rivers. Rivers that are unusually warm can experience mass fish die-offs, which has happened in Germany in the past week.
WAIT BEFORE YOU GO...This year, the ground feels uncertain — facts are buried and those in power are working to keep them hidden. Now more than ever, independent journalism must go beneath the surface.
At Truthdig, we don’t just report what's happening — we investigate how and why. We follow the threads others leave behind and uncover the forces shaping our future.
Your tax-deductible donation fuels journalism that asks harder questions and digs where others won’t.
Don’t settle for surface-level coverage.
Unearth what matters. Help dig deeper.
Donate now.
Environment
In a state where the sun can shine all day, the climate milestone could make central Alaska "feel like 110."
Environment
The state recently took the first step to potentially becoming a leader in next-generation nuclear energy.
Education
Students learn about regulating methane emissions, but not about the clear benefits of eating less meat.
Environment
The "Sabotage" podcast tells the stories of the real people behind Just Stop Oil's controversial environmental stunts.
Environment
Climate change deaths are largely underreported as the crisis impacts millions and strains an already overburdened health care system.
TD Original
Inside the battle to advance state-level climate action under Trump 2.0.
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.