Extreme heat sweeping across France has led to unprecedented measures in the country's energy sector. Due to a critical rise in river water temperatures, French energy company EDF has decided to shut down three nuclear reactors. This is a forced measure aimed at preventing an ecological disaster: discharging overheated water into water bodies could cause irreparable harm to aquatic ecosystems.
Ecological imperative versus energy security
The decision was made after peak temperatures were recorded on Sunday, when 37 French departments moved to the red alert level. The Nuclear and Radiological Safety Authority (ASNR) strictly regulates the maximum water temperature values for each facility. Violating these norms is unacceptable, so the heatwave automatically leads to a reduction in electricity production.
Plants located near major rivers have been hit:
- Golfech Nuclear Power Plant (Garonne River);
- Bugey Nuclear Power Plant (Rhône River);
- Chooz Nuclear Power Plant (Meuse River).
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that France has 57 nuclear reactors, which generate about 70% of the country's total electricity. All of them are located near water — rivers or the sea — to ensure cooling systems. Thus, climate anomalies directly affect the country's energy stability.
Historical context and human casualties
The current heatwave began on July 4, but problems with reactor overheating have arisen before. In June, during a historical anomaly, EDF already shut down three reactors: in Golfech, Bugey, and Nogent-sur-Seine. Statistics confirm the scale of the threat: June 2026 became the warmest in Western Europe in recorded history. The region's average temperature reached 20.74°C, exceeding the norm by 3°C.
The price of climate change is measured not only in kilowatts but also in human lives. As of the end of June, the heat in France has claimed about 1,000 lives. Environmental restrictions on nuclear power plant operations are becoming a new reality that European energy must take into account.
