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France shuts down nuclear reactors during heatwave

France powers down nuclear reactors over heatwaveFrance powers down nuclear reactors over heatwave

France's main energy provider shut three nuclear reactors and reduced power at eight others on July 12 due to a heatwave. The outage, driven by rising water temperatures from the Rhone river, highlights how climate change is increasingly disrupting energy security.

  • France relies on nuclear power for about 70% of its electricity, making reactor stability critical for national energy supply.
  • The cooling water temperature limit for French nuclear plants is typically 28 degrees Celsius to prevent thermal stress on equipment.
  • Power outages in France have occurred during previous heatwaves, forcing the government to activate emergency cooling protocols for reactors.