France's Nukes Feel the Heat: Rivers Too Warm

France's reliance on nuclear power faces new challenges as rising river temperatures force reactor shutdowns. One reactor at the Golfech nuclear plant was recently taken offline as river temperatures approached the operational limit of 28C. Output has also been reduced at other sites, including Bugey and Nogent-sur-Seine.

Ecologists and energy experts highlight this as a growing pattern, questioning the long-term viability of a nuclear fleet largely designed in the 1970s amidst a warming planet. France generates approximately 70 percent of its electricity from nuclear power, with most reactors situated beside rivers or coastlines requiring substantial water for cooling.

French environmental regulations mandate output reductions when river temperatures reach specific thresholds to protect ecosystems. EDF estimates that climate-related restrictions currently reduce annual nuclear production by around 0.3 percent, a figure projected to rise to 1.5 percent by 2050 without adaptation measures.

EDF plans to invest 8.7 billion euros by 2040 to adapt its nuclear and hydroelectric power stations to a warmer climate. However, experts argue that current nuclear technology is fundamentally rigid and may require costly workarounds, suggesting renewable energy offers a more sovereign long-term path.