Jellyfish and heatwaves cause record nuclear plant downtime in France

France's nuclear power output is facing a significant hit, with jellyfish and high temperatures causing a record "environmental" unavailability rate. As of Wednesday morning, 13 of EDF's reactors were either partially or fully shut down, accounting for 20.4% of the company's total production capacity.

The influx of jellyfish into cooling water intakes at several nuclear plants is forcing temporary shutdowns. Simultaneously, heatwaves across France have raised water temperatures in rivers used for cooling, leading to restrictions on nuclear operations to prevent environmental damage. This dual challenge of marine life and climate conditions is straining EDF's ability to meet energy demand.

This level of unavailability is described as a record for environmental reasons, highlighting the vulnerability of nuclear infrastructure to natural phenomena exacerbated by climate change. The situation underscores the complexities of maintaining a stable energy supply in the face of environmental pressures.