Europe's extreme heat is shutting down power plants
8 hours ago
- #extreme heat
- #nuclear energy
- #power grid
- Europe faces a record-breaking heat wave, increasing electricity demand for cooling.
- High temperatures cause river water to warm, forcing nuclear plants in France to shut down or reduce output.
- French regulations limit the temperature of water returned to rivers after cooling, leading to plant shutdowns.
- Extreme heat previously caused significant nuclear energy shutdowns in France during July 2025.
- Hydropower supplies in Europe have dropped by 13% due to high temperatures and low water conditions.
- Natural-gas and coal plants in the UK report output reductions due to heat-stressed equipment.
- Cooling demand is rising globally, especially in countries like the UK where air-conditioning use has doubled since 2022.
- Global energy use for cooling is projected to double by 2050, increasing strain on power grids.
- Adaptations like grid reinforcement and climate-proofing cooling systems could be costly, with EDF estimating €600 million per year for upgrades.