In France, as in many other European countries, this summer the temperature was around 40 degrees Celsius for a long time. In many regions of the country there is a lack of drinking water, a drought has started, forest fires are raging. The exceptionally hot weather affects the operation of nuclear power plants.

In principle, about one in five of France’s 56 nuclear reactors would now have to be disconnected from the grid or reduced to a minimum due to the fact that it is impossible to release the water used to cool the reactors into rivers. The water in the rivers is already very hot due to the heat, and the entering of water from a nuclear power plant in them leads to an excess of their maximum allowable temperature.

However, the French government temporarily – until 9/11 – softened the standards. It was forced to do so as several months ago about half of the country’s nuclear reactors were disconnected from the grid due to either scheduled or unscheduled repairs. Nuclear plants in France in normal times account for up to 70% of electricity production – more than in any other country in the world.

Golfes, in southwestern France, is one of the nuclear power plants that has been granted an exceptional operating license. One of the station’s two reactors was shut down for unscheduled repairs. In it, as well as in 11 other reactors from other nuclear plants, corrosion and microcracks were found in the pipes, which are important for the safe operation of the installation. The second reactor at the nuclear power plant continues to operate despite the abnormal heat. “I don’t understand how you can continue to operate a nuclear power plant if it has a catastrophic effect on the environment,” Jean-Pierre Delfo, an activist with the environmental organization FNE86, tells DW. Together with two colleagues, in 42-degree heat, he collects water samples from the Garonne River near the station. Behind him, puffs of white steam from the nuclear power plant’s cooling tower rise into the sky.

Ecologists in France are sounding the alarm

“Now, because of the heat of the river, there is already much less water than usual. Golfesh uses water from the river to cool the reactors, some of it evaporates, so less water returns to the river. And what is dumped back is 6 degrees” warmer than before the fence. It further heats the river, which leads to the death of microscopic algae. They feed on small fish, which in turn feed on larger fish. Thus, the food chain of the river is completely disturbed”, Delfo is outraged. The 79-year-old environmentalist has been against nuclear energy for about 50 years and participated in protests even before the construction of the Golfes nuclear plant. river generates a lot of bacteria, which need more chemicals to kill, to use this water as drinking water. So we drink those chemicals,” he adds.

Nuclear concern EDF, which operates all nuclear power plants in France, declined DW’s request for an interview. At the same time, in a letter, a company spokesperson said that we are now talking about an “extraordinary situation”, and that analysis of samples taken by the company so far indicates that there is no negative impact on the surrounding flora and fauna. Nuclear center.

It seems that the current difficulties do not lead to a nuclear crisis in France. The government plans to nationalize EDF and build new nuclear reactors.

France plans to build new nuclear power plants

“It’s not clear how this should be implemented technologically, especially in the short term,” Anne Creti, head of economics and climate at the University of Paris-Dauphine, told DW. According to her, the government has bet on the so-called small modular reactors, for which there are around 40 technologies, but all of them are still in the testing phase. It will take another 5 to 10 years before a working model appears.

On the other hand, France plans to use third-generation pressurized water reactors (EPRs) in the future. The only reactor of its kind in France is being built in Flamanville and costs, according to EDF, around 13 billion euros, four times more than originally planned. According to the French Audit Office, its cost has already reached 19 billion. The reactor is expected to be commissioned next year, 10 years later than planned. According to media reports, in the UK, China and Finland, construction of the EPR is also delayed due to problems with the reactor design.

Flamanville Nuclear Power Plant

Despite this, the French authorities intend to spend 150 billion euros on nuclear energy – on the maintenance of existing ones and on the construction of new nuclear plants. And France does not earmark these funds for “green energy”, although the government is preparing a law to support projects in this area. “At the same time, there is enough equipment for alternative energy on the market, and prices have dropped sharply in recent years,” notes Kreti. In 2020, France was the only European country not to meet EU targets for renewable energy production, with just 19% of the country’s share instead of the 23% target.

Investments in strategic autonomy

France’s strategy has its reasons, says Christian Egenhofer of the Brussels-based Center for European Policy (CEPS). “Paris is investing in nuclear energy for the sake of so-called strategic autonomy. We need scientists and engineers in the field of nuclear physics to serve about 100 nuclear plants in Europe. Otherwise, we would have to attract specialists from the US, China or South Korea, it’s a security issue,” said DW Egenhofer. Europe seeks autonomy not only in the sphere of defence, but also in energy, which means that it must be able to act independently in these areas.

In addition, according to the expert, in France, the electricity grids are centralized around Paris, where most of the electricity is consumed. It heads towards the capital, from where it then detours across the country, says Egenhofer. Renewable energy requires a decentralized power grid and will take years to create. At the same time, Egenhofer doubts that France will be able to build the planned nuclear plants. In his opinion, in the long term, the country will switch to alternative energies.

Should you expect power outages in winter?

Philippe Mante, Europe’s climate commissioner Ecology Greens, center-left, also hopes so. He is opposed to the construction of new nuclear plants, but also against the immediate shutdown of existing plants for the sake of energy security. “Even nuclear energy advocates, faced with the current crisis, must admit that we need to invest in green energy without delay,” he says.

According to Mante, there should be power cuts in France this winter. Neighboring countries will closely monitor the situation in France, also because the country has been a major exporter of electricity so far, especially during the summer months. This year, France will import more energy than it sells abroad. This will further increase electricity prices, which are already rising due to the war in Ukraine and reduced gas supplies from Russia.