Image Courtesy: France24

France has temporarily shut down three nuclear reactors and reduced output at eight others as an intense heatwave pushes temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, highlighting the growing impact of extreme weather on the country’s energy infrastructure.

State-owned energy company EDF said reactors at the Golfech, Bugey, and Chooz nuclear power plants were taken offline because environmental regulations limit the temperature of cooling water discharged back into nearby rivers. The precaution is designed to protect aquatic ecosystems from additional warming during periods of extreme heat. The shutdowns come as France experiences its third major heatwave since May.

France relies heavily on nuclear energy, with its reactors using river water to cool their systems before returning the warmed water to the environment. During heatwaves, river temperatures rise and water levels can fall, reducing the amount of heat that can safely be released without harming wildlife.

The affected reactors are located along the Garonne, Rhone, and Meuse rivers. While operations have been suspended at those sites, eight additional reactors are running at reduced capacity under the same environmental restrictions.

To help maintain electricity supplies, France’s Economy Ministry granted a temporary exemption for the Bugey plant, allowing it to discharge warmer cooling water into the Rhone River until July 20 if necessary to protect the stability of the national power grid.

The latest shutdowns mark the second time in just a few weeks that EDF has been forced to scale back nuclear generation because of extreme heat. Similar measures were introduced during a record-breaking heatwave in June.

More than 25 million people were under France’s highest heat alert on Sunday, with temperatures forecast to reach as high as 41 degrees Celsius in some areas. The prolonged heat has also led to early closures of tourist attractions, event cancellations, wildfires, and a rise in drowning deaths.

Scientists have warned that human-driven climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and intense across Europe, increasing pressure on infrastructure that was not designed for prolonged periods of extreme temperatures.