Thanks to Frances McKie for alerting us to this.
Electricité de France (EDF) shut down the Golfech-2 nuclear reactor in southern France amid a heat wave pushing temperatures toward 40°C in parts of Europe. This is the latest in a record number of heat-related outages for France’s nuclear fleet this summer, reducing output from a key part of Europe’s electricity system. EDF also warned that the Tricastin plant could face production cuts overnight due to high river temperatures limiting cooling.
Many French nuclear plants use river water for cooling and discharge warmer water back into the rivers. Environmental rules restrict these discharges when river temperatures are already elevated, forcing reactors to cut output or shut down. A power trader noted that the heat wave is a major factor affecting French nuclear power, with concern over how long it will last and whether it will worsen. French evening power prices in July have been higher than in any other year on record except the 2022 energy crisis. They were expected to reach about €200 per megawatt-hour that evening (up from around €5 near noon).
Elsewhere in Europe, Hungary’s Paks nuclear plant planned to cut capacity at block 2 by 50% due to low Danube water levels (the fourth such cut in two days). https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-30/france-shuts-off-more-nuclear-power-as-heat-builds-across-europe
That’s not all:
United States examples
- Millstone (Connecticut, 2012): Unit 2 was shut down because Long Island Sound water exceeded the 75°F (≈24°C) intake temperature limit for cooling. https://grist.org/climate-energy/hot-seawater-forces-shutdown-of-nuclear-reactor-in-connecticut/
- Browns Ferry (Alabama, TVA): Multiple reductions (e.g., 2010, 2011, and other summers) when Tennessee River temperatures rose too high, sometimes cutting output by ~50%. https://electricityforum.com/news/tvanuclearplantsoverheatingtenesseeriver
- Illinois plants (2012 heatwave): Facilities such as Braidwood, Dresden, LaSalle, and Quad Cities sought temporary variances to discharge-temperature limits or reduced output due to hot cooling water/ponds. https://openei.org/wiki/Powerplant_Curtailments
Roughly 45% of U.S. nuclear capacity uses once-through (open-loop) cooling that is more vulnerable to high water temperatures. https://www.industrialinfo.com/iirenergy/industry-news/article/rising-temperatures-could-cause-more-unplanned-outages-at-nuclear-plants–360468
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The 'Unstoppable' Talking-up Scotland 
I was faced with a question from a unionist this morning while debating these wildfires. He said “what makes you think a wildfire is a threat to a nuclear plant”?
Well?!……..
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Drought is also a danger to nuclear power stations because they need quite a lot of water for cooling the rods in the reactor. At to moment 50% of England is affected by drought and the whole of Wales from where England gets some of its water. With the drought situation as it is getting enough water to put out the wildfires becomes problematic as well as the danger it poses to nuclear power stations in drought areas. If I remember correctly earlier this month France had to shut down some of its nuclear power stations because water levels in the rivers supplying them were dangerously low.
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Now Hungary:
“”Hungary’s only nuclear power plant will be forced to shut down entirely for the first time due to record low water levels of the River Danube, Prime Minister Péter Magyar has said.”
BBC 30th July 2026
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Beyond belief. The ignorance of unionist. Can they not read? Or look up a few facts.
Scary
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These authorities could be using solar. Plenty of Sunshine. Less rain. Less dangerous and less expensive. Less harm to the planet. Things must change. Farmers could even make more funds from solar in a drought. Diversify. Grow fuel and energy.
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Saudi Arabia the most despot regime in the world getting supplied with nuclear. Solar energy would be more effective and cheaper. The people have no rights. No say at all. 33Million pop. 11million immigrants doing the dirty work with no rights. No equality or rights.
Running out of Oil.
Despot leaders causing trouble and destruction for people worldwide.
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