EDF could reduce production at two nuclear power plants this weekend due to the heat wave

EDF plans to reduce production at its nuclear power plants in Bugey (Ain) and Tricastin (Drôme), starting on Saturday and Sunday respectively, due to the heat wave episode expected in France. “Due to high temperature forecasts on the Rhône, production restrictions are likely to affect the Bugey nuclear production site from August 19, 2023”, indicates EDF on its website. The same type of message is broadcast for the Tricastin power station “from August 20”.

The Bugey power station, which has 4 reactors of 900 MW each, had already been the subject of messages of this type in July. In mid-July, the high temperatures had led to the shutdown of the Bugey 3 reactor, for cumulative reasons of "environmental constraints and low demand for electricity", according to a spokesperson. The activity of the power stations, which pump water from adjacent rivers (or the sea, where applicable) to cool it before discharging it hotter into the environment, is governed by temperature rise and flow thresholds for these courses. of water not to be exceeded. These thresholds are specific to each plant and aim to protect the fauna and flora.

For several years, in a context of global warming, droughts and heat waves have led EDF, sometimes as early as June, to adjust its production to comply with thermal discharge limits. “An episode of strong heat has affected the south of the country, in particular the Center-East since the end of last week”, recalled Wednesday Météo France, which warns that “the heat will intensify in the coming days and will gradually spread. to other regions. The public establishment is counting on “peaks of around 40°C in the Mediterranean South and in the Rhône Valley from this weekend” and expects this new episode to be “the hottest of the summer. 2023”.