I heard on the morning briefing that one nuclear plant in France has shut off production of electricity because the river it uses for cooling is too hot. This earlier report says several have reduced output for that reason.
Glancing at the graph below, it looks like electricity costs are around 8 times the fairly steady 2020 level.
Imagine if your electricity bill went up 700%.
Electricite de France SA’s nuclear-output cuts are expected to stretch into next week as a heat wave sweeping across Europe pushes up river temperatures, restricting EDF’s ability to cool its plants.
The French utility said that two power stations on the Rhone River will produce less electricity in the coming days, adding to cutbacks at another plant caused by rising temperatures on the Garonne.
The restrictions threaten to push power prices -- already at eye-watering levels -- even higher, with the effects rippling out to other European markets. The region is suffering its worst energy crunch in decades as supply concerns drive a surge in the cost of natural gas.
Under French rules, EDF must reduce or halt nuclear output when river temperatures reach certain thresholds to ensure that the water used to cool the plants won’t harm the environment when put back into the waterways.
The embattled utility has estimated that output this year will be the lowest in more than three decades as multiple plants are shut for maintenance and checks. Its troubles are forcing the nation, traditionally an exporter, to rely on imports from neighbors including the UK, which is facing its own energy crisis.
France’s nuclear reactors were operating at 46% of capacity on Friday, down from 47% on Wednesday, according to Bloomberg calculations using data from grid operator RTE.
The supply constraints have seen French week-ahead power jump 18% since last week to 500 euros a megawatt-hour on the European Energy Exchange AG. That would be the highest weekly close on record. Year-ahead prices are also trading at an all-time high.
Temperatures are forecast to peak in France, Germany and the UK early next week, while heat waves in central and southern Europe may last longer. Paris could see 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday.
Restrictions on the Rhone will cut output at the Saint-Alban plant from July 20, but the facility will maintain minimum production of at least 1,300 megawatts for grid operational reasons, EDF said in a filing. That’s half its usual capacity. The Tricastin and Blayais plants will each operate at a minimum level of 1,800 megawatts from July 17.
The Saint-Alban and Blayais facilities, as well as the Golfech plant, have received temporary waivers of water-discharge rules to keep them in operation during the heatwave, Les Echos reported, without giving specifics on output. The Garonne River reached 28 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the newspaper said.
www.bloomberg.com
Glancing at the graph below, it looks like electricity costs are around 8 times the fairly steady 2020 level.
Imagine if your electricity bill went up 700%.
French Nuclear Cuts Extend to Next Week as Temperatures Soar
- Reactor availability has shrunk to just 46%, pushing up prices
- Paris is set to see temperatures of almost 40 degrees Celsius
Electricite de France SA’s nuclear-output cuts are expected to stretch into next week as a heat wave sweeping across Europe pushes up river temperatures, restricting EDF’s ability to cool its plants.
The French utility said that two power stations on the Rhone River will produce less electricity in the coming days, adding to cutbacks at another plant caused by rising temperatures on the Garonne.
The restrictions threaten to push power prices -- already at eye-watering levels -- even higher, with the effects rippling out to other European markets. The region is suffering its worst energy crunch in decades as supply concerns drive a surge in the cost of natural gas.
Under French rules, EDF must reduce or halt nuclear output when river temperatures reach certain thresholds to ensure that the water used to cool the plants won’t harm the environment when put back into the waterways.
The embattled utility has estimated that output this year will be the lowest in more than three decades as multiple plants are shut for maintenance and checks. Its troubles are forcing the nation, traditionally an exporter, to rely on imports from neighbors including the UK, which is facing its own energy crisis.
France’s nuclear reactors were operating at 46% of capacity on Friday, down from 47% on Wednesday, according to Bloomberg calculations using data from grid operator RTE.
The supply constraints have seen French week-ahead power jump 18% since last week to 500 euros a megawatt-hour on the European Energy Exchange AG. That would be the highest weekly close on record. Year-ahead prices are also trading at an all-time high.
Temperatures are forecast to peak in France, Germany and the UK early next week, while heat waves in central and southern Europe may last longer. Paris could see 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday.
Restrictions on the Rhone will cut output at the Saint-Alban plant from July 20, but the facility will maintain minimum production of at least 1,300 megawatts for grid operational reasons, EDF said in a filing. That’s half its usual capacity. The Tricastin and Blayais plants will each operate at a minimum level of 1,800 megawatts from July 17.
The Saint-Alban and Blayais facilities, as well as the Golfech plant, have received temporary waivers of water-discharge rules to keep them in operation during the heatwave, Les Echos reported, without giving specifics on output. The Garonne River reached 28 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the newspaper said.
French Nuclear Cuts Stretch to Next Week as Temperatures Soar
Electricite de France SA’s nuclear-output cuts are expected to stretch into next week as a heat wave sweeping across Europe pushes up river temperatures, restricting EDF’s ability to cool its plants.
www.bloomberg.com
