Hot Airwaves Make France's Nuclear Power Production Decline

Illustration of a nuclear power reactor. (Pixabay-JamesQube)

JAKARTA - Production of the Bugey 3 nuclear reactor is expected to decline by 500 megawatts (MW) on Wednesday this week. The reason is that high river temperature heat waves reduce the ability of power plants to absorb cooling water.

Citing Reuters, Tuesday 12 August, heat waves across France have caused several warning of power cuts in a number of nuclear plants, especially in the Rhone River in the east and Garonne River in the west.

According to EDF data, electricity production at the Bugey 3 nuclear reactor has a maximum capacity of 910 MW, which will be reduced to 410 MW from 14.30 (12.30 GMT) to midnight Wednesday. That's because the reactor is required to meet environmental safety measures given the river temperature.

LSEG reports that the average temperature in France is expected to continue to peak this week, with an estimated 28.5 degrees Celsius (83.3°F) to reach its peak this Saturday.

The Bugey 3 nuclear reactor is known to account for about 70 percent of France's total electricity consumption annually, however, this month, August, is a holiday season across France as electricity demand is often limited.