Low river levels restrict nuclear power production across Europe

Low water levels in European rivers are forcing nuclear power plants to reduce production, impacting energy supply. In Hungary, the Paks nuclear power plant has throttled its output. President Pèter Magyar has urged major industrial consumers, including battery and car manufacturers, to reduce their electricity consumption between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. during the ongoing heatwave. The Paks plant, crucial for Hungary's electricity supply, is situated on the Danube River. The Danube has reached record low levels in some sections since May due to a lack of rainfall and consecutive heatwaves. Similarly, Romania has taken both reactors at its Cernavoda nuclear power plant, the country's only nuclear facility also located on the Danube, offline. Operator Nuclearelectrica stated this measure is in place for severe drought conditions and marks the first time both reactors have been shut down due to low Danube levels. France has also experienced disruptions, with one of the two reactors at the Golfech nuclear power plant, located north of Toulouse, being temporarily taken offline. The energy company had previously reduced the reactor's output to mitigate the heating of the Garonne River, which provides cooling water.