French heatwave cuts nuclear output, day-ahead power prices surge 22%

A new heatwave in France is hitting its nuclear power supply, with effects quickly transmitting to the electricity market. On Tuesday morning local time, LSEG data showed French day-ahead power prices rose as much as 21.8% to €142.5 per megawatt-hour, equivalent to approximately $164.39. The direct cause of the price surge is that operators expect nuclear output to be constrained during the midday peak demand period on Wednesday. Data from French utility EDF shows that due to this week's heatwave, France's nuclear generation capacity on Wednesday is expected to be reduced by 7.3 gigawatts, equivalent to 12% of total installed capacity. This marks at least the fifth time France has experienced extreme heat since June. For a country where about 70% of electricity comes from nuclear power, nuclear...

2026-08-12

Three units at France's Gravelines nuclear power plant automatically shut down due to jellyfish intrusion

French utility EDF recently stated on its website that three units at the Gravelines nuclear power plant in northern France automatically shut down after a large influx of jellyfish clogged the filtration system, triggering safety measures. The statement indicated that the incident occurred on August 10, 2026. Due to the jellyfish intrusion, three units at the Gravelines plant automatically shut down, while a fourth unit reduced its power output. The plant has a total of six reactors, of which the fifth reactor had already been shut down for planned maintenance, and the sixth reactor remained in operation. The Gravelines plant experienced a similar situation a year earlier, when a large number of jellyfish entered the relevant water intake and filtration systems, causing four reactors to automatically shut down...

2026-08-12

EDF plans to add cooling towers at Golfech nuclear plant to cope with repeated shutdowns due to high temperatures

French utility EDF is planning to adapt the Golfech nuclear power plant in Tarn-et-Garonne to cope with increasingly frequent heatwaves. Since June this year, the plant has been shut down multiple times due to high temperatures, with another outage in early August, highlighting the growing operational pressure on nuclear facilities that rely on river water for cooling in the context of climate change. The direct cause of the Golfech shutdowns is not that the reactors themselves cannot operate, but rather that the Garonne River water temperature is too high. Under regulations dating from 2006, when the daily average water temperature of the Garonne downstream of the plant exceeds 28 degrees Celsius, EDF may reduce unit output or temporarily shut down. This restriction is primarily intended to protect the river ecosystem...

2026-08-11

French nuclear power sets record unavailability rate due to high temperatures and drought, one-sixth of capacity constrained

France's nuclear power system is under exceptional strain. Affected by persistent high temperatures and low river water levels, nuclear reactors operated by French utility EDF have recorded unprecedented unavailability. According to an AFP tally based on data published by EDF since 2015, on the afternoon of Sunday, August 9, 2026, the nuclear capacity shortfall caused by drought and extreme heat reached 15.6% of installed capacity, equivalent to roughly one-sixth of France's nuclear power capacity being temporarily unable to supply electricity normally. The cause of this disruption is not simply equipment failure, but is closely linked to the natural environment on which nuclear plant operations depend. Many nuclear plants draw water from rivers for cooling; when river levels are too low or water temperatures too high, the...

2026-08-11

After only 4 days of restart, Unit 2 of France's Golfech Nuclear Power Plant shut down again due to Garonne River water temperature approaching limit

On the evening of August 8, French utility EDF (Électricité de France) once again shut down Unit 2 of the Golfech Nuclear Power Plant, just four days after the unit had been restarted. The direct cause of this shutdown was that the water temperature of the Garonne River was expected to reach 28°C on August 9, hitting the local operational limit. Since Unit 1 had already been taken offline for maintenance and fuel replacement, the closure of Unit 2 left both reactors at the Golfech plant simultaneously out of service, with the station temporarily ceasing power generation. Located in the Tarn-et-Garonne department of France, the Golfech Nuclear Power Plant was commissioned between 1991 and 1994, and features two 1,300 MW pressurized water reactor units. It draws cooling water from the Garonne River and dissipates heat through natural-draft cooling towers. According to EDF dat...

2026-08-10

Germany's renewable energy summer generation approaches French nuclear power, may overtake it before 2030

French nuclear power has long been regarded as a key pillar of Europe's low-carbon electricity system, but the latest data shows that Germany's renewable energy generation is rapidly closing in on French nuclear power. According to the data, in January this year, Germany's combined renewable energy generation from solar, wind, and other sources totaled 22,854 GWh, while French nuclear power generated 36,838 GWh, about 61% higher. By July, however, the gap had narrowed significantly: French nuclear power generated 29,689 GWh, while Germany's renewable energy generated 26,501 GWh, with French nuclear power leading by only about 12%. This change is closely linked to summer heat. Nuclear power plants require large amounts of cooling water and are therefore typically built near coastlines or rivers. When river water levels are insufficient, or when discharged water temperatures exceed environmental limits, nuclear plants must reduce output or even shut down. The data mentions that French nuclear plants such as Golfech, Bugey, and Nogent-sur-Seine have already been affected. As heatwaves become more frequent, the cooling constraints on nuclear power in summer may become more pronounced, challenging the stability advantage of French nuclear output.

2026-08-10

French innovative nuclear company Newcleo submits regulatory engagement plan to NRC for U.S. MOX fuel plant

On August 7, 2026, France-based innovative nuclear company Newcleo submitted a Regulatory Engagement Plan (REP) to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), paving the way for its proposed mixed oxide (MOX) fuel fabrication facility in the United States. The REP defines the framework for the company's pre-application phase with the NRC, key regulatory and technical topics, technical document submittals, and an indicative schedule. Previously, Newcleo sent a letter to the NRC on February 23 expressing its intent, and initiated pre-application interactions in March, engaging with the NRC on the design and safety approach for the LFR-AS-200 lead-cooled fast reactor and the associated MOX plant; last month, it had already submitted the REP for the LFR-AS-200 (200 MWe commercial version). Newcleo stated that this submission is a step toward advanced...

2026-08-09

France's Golfech Nuclear Power Plant Reconnected to Grid After Shutdown Due to High Temperatures

French utility EDF (Électricité de France) announced that the Golfech nuclear power plant, located in the Tarn-et-Garonne department, has been reconnected to the grid. Unit 2 of the plant was restarted around noon on August 7, following a forced shutdown on July 29 due to high-temperature weather. At the time of the shutdown, Unit 1 was in the maintenance and refueling phase, making the interruption of Unit 2 more impactful on plant operations. The direct cause of the shutdown at Golfech was that the water temperature of the Garonne River reached regulatory limits. According to relevant regulations, when the daily average water temperature of the Garonne River exceeds 28 degrees Celsius, the plant must reduce reactor power or temporarily cease operations. Since the nuclear plant needs to draw water from the river for...

2026-08-08

France's drought lowers river water levels, EDF shuts down three nuclear reactors

Affected by drought weather, water flows in France's Meuse and Moselle rivers have declined, and Électricité de France (EDF) has shut down three nuclear reactors in northeastern France. As of the afternoon of August 3, Units 1 and 2 at the Chooz Nuclear Power Plant in the Ardennes department, as well as one unit at the Cattenom Nuclear Power Plant in the Moselle department, remained offline. EDF shut down Unit 1 at the Chooz plant on Saturday evening to comply with the Meuse River management agreement signed between France and Belgium in 1998. Under the same agreement, Unit 2 at the Chooz plant has been offline since July 11. EDF stated that the agreement allows for adjustments to power generation arrangements based on hydrological conditions to safeguard water usage for users along the Meuse River in both France and Belgium.

2026-08-05

First H-mode plasma with ELMs achieved on WEST

Recently, the C13 experimental campaign on the French tungsten tokamak WEST achieved a major breakthrough, successfully producing H-mode plasmas with Edge Localized Modes (ELMs). This is a key step in preparing for plasma scenarios relevant to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and future fusion power plants. Over the past nearly three months, scientists, engineers, and technicians from the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) at Cadarache, together with international collaborators, conducted the C13 experimental campaign. This campaign aimed to address a series of key scientific and technical challenges in magnetic confinement fusion, covering the behavior of plasma-facing components and advanced plasma scenarios. The experiments focused on...

2026-08-04

Serbia Launches Nuclear Program: Experts to Train in France for 17 Months, First Nuclear Power Plant Expected by 2040

The nuclear cooperation agreement signed between Serbia and France officially launched the first phase of the country's nuclear energy program on July 29. Under the agreement, Serbian experts will travel to France over the next 17 months for training, seminars, and professional visits to acquire the new knowledge and experience needed to advance the nuclear program. Radoš Popadić, Assistant Minister at Serbia's Ministry of Mining and Energy, stated that nuclear energy could become a realistic and viable solution within Serbia's energy mix. The primary task of the first phase is to assess existing capabilities and identify what additional resources are needed as the process moves forward. According to the plan, Serbia needs to strategically...

2026-08-03

Global Nuclear Power Construction Accelerates, Asian Countries Lead the Way

Global nuclear power construction is accelerating, particularly in the Asian region. China is currently the most active country in nuclear power construction worldwide, with more than twenty nuclear reactors under construction, far surpassing other nations. This large-scale investment reflects China's emphasis on energy security and reducing carbon emissions. India follows closely behind, also actively expanding its nuclear power capacity to meet growing electricity demand and achieve climate goals. Beyond Asia, several European countries are also increasing their nuclear power capacity. Although France already possesses a large number of existing nuclear power plants, it is also advancing the construction of new nuclear reactors, aiming to maintain the share of nuclear energy in its energy mix. The United Kingdom is likewise committed to developing nuclear power, with plans to build new...

2026-08-03

EDF's Performance Declines as Nuclear Plants Affected by High Temperatures

EDF faced pressure in its first-half results, with net profit down 4.4% year-on-year to €5.2 billion. Despite an increase of approximately 8 TWh in French nuclear output, revenue still fell 3.3% to €57.45 billion. The company's half-year EBIT stood at €14.1 billion, with total electricity generation of 262.1 TWh, of which French nuclear plants contributed 189.9 TWh. Meanwhile, EDF also bore an additional €500 million in taxes, mainly related to the contribution on excess profits. Weak market prices reduced the value of electricity sold by EDF, while the company, fully state-owned, needs to fund capital-intensive industrial projects. As of end-June, EDF's net debt reached €51.5 billion, flat compared to the level at end-2025...

2026-08-01

France's Golfech nuclear power plant shut down for third time this summer due to high temperatures

France's Golfech nuclear power plant has been shut down three times this summer. Located approximately 100 kilometers northwest of Toulouse, the plant is operated by Électricité de France (EDF). On the evening of July 29, one of its reactors was shut down again due to extreme heat. EDF had previously shut down the reactor twice, from June 23 to July 3 and from July 9 to 27, to prevent cooling water discharged into the Garonne River from exceeding the 28-degree Celsius limit set by a 2006 decree. The Golfech nuclear power plant is located in the Tarn-et-Garonne department, and its cooling water is discharged into the Garonne River. Currently, another reactor at the plant is also shut down for maintenance and refueling. France has experienced its fourth heatwave since the start of summer...

2026-07-31

EDF plans to bring in investors for Nuward small modular reactor project by end of 2026

French utility EDF said on July 30 that it plans to bring in investors for its Nuward small modular reactor project by the end of 2026. The company stated that the related financing arrangements will be centered around European customers and industrial partners to support the development of a batch of initial reactors better aligned with user needs. Small modular reactors have not yet entered large-scale commercial production, but multiple companies worldwide are advancing the deployment of related technologies. Supporters believe that compared with traditional large nuclear power units, small modular reactors offer greater flexibility in deployment methods, application scenarios, and low-carbon energy supply. EDF is a state-owned French power company operating 57...

2026-07-31

Serbia and France Sign Nuclear Energy Cooperation Partnership Agreement

Serbia and France are deepening cooperation in the nuclear energy field, with both sides signing a significant partnership agreement. Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović-Handanović announced via social media that the agreement was signed jointly by the Republic of Serbia, French electricity company EDF, and the French Development Agency AFD, aiming to lay the foundation for Serbia's peaceful nuclear energy projects. This cooperation will focus on strengthening Serbia's expertise, talent pool, and organizational capacity in the nuclear energy sector, while providing a scientific basis for future energy decisions. This partnership follows the Serbian government's reception of an EDF delegation and French Ambassador to Serbia Florence Ferrari...

2026-07-30

Kazakhstan and France Discuss Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

On July 28-29, the bilateral committee meeting between Kazakhstan and France on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy was held at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. The meeting was convened in accordance with the bilateral agreement on cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, focusing on reviewing progress in scientific, technological, and industrial cooperation, and discussing the direction of the next phase of collaboration. The Kazakh delegation was led by Almasadam Satkaliyev, Director of the Atomic Energy Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan. During the visit, the delegation met with Jean-Noël Barrot, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Nicolas Forissier, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness...

2026-07-30