The French electrical group EDF advanced on Monday instead of Wednesday the beginning of the possible production restrictions in its nuclear fleet, particularly at the site of its Bury Power Station (AIN), due to the possible impact of high temperatures on the Rhône River. “Due to Rhône’s high temperature forecasts, production restrictions are likely to affect the EDF Nuclear Production Park on Monday, June 23 and, more particularly on the Bugy site,” EDF said in a information message on Saturday. These forecasts will refine “J-1,” EDF said.
The “Wave” orange surveillance of Météo-France has been in force in 16 departments since Friday at noon. The heat wave culminated on Saturday in France, affected by an early heat wave, which pushed the Météo-France organization to decree orange surveillance since Friday at noon in 16 departments, mainly in western France. A very progressive return is expected to freshness from the west at night.
Nuclear production losses due to environmental causes only 0.3%
The activity of the power plants, which pump the water of the adjacent rivers (or in the sea, if necessary) for its cooling before rejecting it, is framed by heating and the fluid thresholds of these water courses that are not exceeded. These thresholds are specific to each energy plant and aim to protect fauna and flora. EDF had warned on Thursday that restrictions could take place from Wednesday before advancing this two days.
For several years, in a context of global warming, droughts and heat waves have been leaders, sometimes since June, to adjust their production to respect these thermal releases. If the losses are relatively low, the available mobilized power can be significantly reduced during hot episodes, according to a report by the 2023 audit court on adapting to climate change of nuclear park.
According to the group, since 2000, the losses of nuclear production for environmental causes (high temperature and low river flow) represented 0.3% of the annual production of the nuclear fleet on average. During the 2003 heat wave, production losses had reached 1.43% of EDF’s annual nuclear production. The lack of simultaneous availability had reached more than 6 GW, or almost 10% of the nuclear capacity installed, according to the Auditors Court report.
Source: BFM TV
