Extreme heat in Switzerland and France has led to the shutdown of nuclear power plants in these two countries.
Following a significant increase in temperatures across Europe and the warming of river waters, several nuclear power plants in Switzerland and France have suspended operations or reduced their capacity.
The Swiss company Axpo announced that one of the two reactors at the Beznau power plant has been completely shut down, and the second reactor is operating at only half its capacity.
The reason for this action is to prevent damage to the Aare river ecosystem and to adhere to strict environmental regulations.
The Beznau power plant, located near the German border, is considered one of the oldest active power plants in the world, having been commissioned in 1969 and 1971.
Switzerland had previously decided on a gradual phase-out of nuclear energy, but the operation of these facilities is allowed until their safety is assured. According to the current plan, the two Beznau reactors are scheduled to be decommissioned in 2032 and 2033, respectively.
In France, a similar situation is occurring. The French state-owned electricity company EDF has announced that the operation of the Golfech nuclear power plant in the south of the country has been temporarily halted to prevent the excessive warming of the Garonne river.
At other plants like Blayais and Bugey, capacity reductions or potential shutdowns are also being considered.
Unprecedented heat in recent summers has disrupted nuclear power production in France, and according to EDF, it has resulted in an average annual reduction of 0.3% in electricity production since 2000.
