At the Gravelines nuclear power plant in northern France, three reactors were taken offline after the seawater pumps used in the cooling systems were clogged by a large swarm of jellyfish.
According to a statement from the energy company EDF, three reactors at the plant were shut down following the incident on Monday. While production at a fourth reactor was reduced by half, only one reactor continued to operate at full capacity. It was noted that the sixth reactor was already offline due to planned maintenance.
The company emphasized that the shutdowns did not pose a risk to the safety of the plant. In its statement, EDF noted, "This situation has no impact on the safety of the facilities, the safety of the personnel, or the environment."
Located near the city of Dunkirk, the Gravelines nuclear power plant is known as the largest nuclear facility in Western Europe with its six 900-megawatt reactors. The plant was also temporarily taken offline last year due to jellyfish clogging the seawater pumping stations.
HEATWAVES AND INCREASE IN JELLYFISH STRAIN ENERGY PRODUCTION
Nuclear energy production in France has also been under pressure this year due to the effects of heatwaves and droughts. EDF was forced to halt production at some reactors in June and July due to extreme heat.
Prior to the latest shutdowns, calculations based on EDF data indicated that France recorded a 15.6 percent deficit in nuclear electricity production on Sunday.
The disruption of production at nuclear power plants by jellyfish swarms is not unique to France. Similar incidents include a three-day shutdown in Sweden in 2013 and a case in Japan in 1999 that led to a major drop in production.
According to experts, overfishing, plastic pollution, and warming seas linked to climate change are creating favorable conditions for jellyfish to multiply and spread over wider areas.
News Source: 12punto
