Latest news with #Axpo
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
France and Switzerland shut down nuclear power plants amid scorching heatwave
Due to a scorching heatwave which has spread across Europe in recent days, a number of nuclear power plants in Switzerland and France have been forced to either reduce activity or shut down completely as extreme temperatures have prevented sites from relying on water from local rivers. To cool down, nuclear power plants pump water from local rivers or the sea, which they then release back into water bodies at a higher temperature. However, Europe's ongoing heatwave means that the water pumped by nuclear sites is already very hot, impacting the ability of nuclear plants to use it to cool down. On top of this, nuclear sites run the risk of posing a dangerous threat to local biodiversity, by releasing water which is too hot into rivers and seas. In light of the heat, Axpo - which operates the Beznau nuclear power plant in Switzerland - said it had shut down one of its reactors on Tuesday, adding that a second reactor was operating at limited capacity. "Due to the high river water temperatures, Axpo has been increasingly reducing the output of the two reactor units at the Beznau nuclear power plant for days and reduced it to 50 per cent on Sunday," said the operator. The Beznau nuclear power plant's reactors are located directly on the River Aare, where temperatures have reached 25 degrees Celsius in recent days, leading Axpo to curtail its activities to prevent "excessive warming of the already warm water" which could strain local biodiversity. Although Switzerland has decided to phase out nuclear power by 2033, existing plants are able to continue to operate as long as they are safe. Meanwhile, on Monday French electricity company EDF shut down the Golfech nuclear power plant, located in the southern department of Tarn-et-Garonne, amid extreme heat warnings in the region and concerns that the local river could heat up to 28 degrees, even without the inflow of heated cooling water. France has a total of 57 active nuclear reactors in 18 power plants. According to EDF, the country obtains around 65% of its electricity from nuclear energy, which the government considers to be environmentally friendly. Output has also been reduced at other sites, including at the Blayais nuclear power plant in western France, as well as the Bugey nuclear power plant in southern France, which could also be shut down, drawing their cooling water from the Gironde and Rhône rivers. Although the production of nuclear power has had to be curtailed in light of extreme heat, the impact on France's energy grid remains limited, despite the fact that more electricity is being used to cool buildings and run air conditioning systems. Speaking to broadcaster FranceInfo, French grid operator RTE ensured that "all the nuclear power sites which are running are able to cover the needs of the French population. France produces more electricity than it consumes, as it currently exports electricity to neighbouring countries." However, experts forecast that peaks in energy consumption peaks during heatwaves will only become more frequent, as global temperatures continue to rise.
Canada News.Net
05-07-2025
- Climate
- Canada News.Net
Deadly Europe heatwave shuts reactor, fuels fires and warnings
LONDON, U.K.: An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed early summer temperatures to historic highs, triggering deadly consequences and widespread disruption from Spain to Switzerland. At least eight people have died — including four in Spain, two in France, and two in Italy — as intense heat sparked wildfires, overwhelmed hospitals, and forced the shutdown of critical infrastructure, including a nuclear reactor in Switzerland, officials said on July 2. Spanish authorities reported two fatalities from a wildfire in Catalonia, while other heat-related deaths occurred in Extremadura and Cordoba. In France, 300 people were hospitalized due to the extreme heat, and the Energy Minister confirmed two related deaths. Italy, which issued red alerts for 18 cities, reported two beach deaths in Sardinia involving men over 60, according to the ANSA news agency. In Germany, forecasts showed temperatures could climb to 40°C (104°F) in some regions — the hottest day of the year — while Meteo France warned of ongoing red alerts across central France. "In the coming days, we'll see the consequences, particularly on the most vulnerable, and I'm thinking particularly of the elderly," said France's Health and Families Minister Catherine Vautrin. The heat also intensified wildfire risks in Turkey, where around 50,000 people had to be temporarily evacuated earlier this week. Officials said most fires have since been contained. Authorities in Italy, France, and Germany warned of potential violent storms, citing unstable atmospheres due to excessive warming. One such storm caused mudslides in the French Alps, disrupting rail traffic between Paris and Milan. Switzerland's Axpo suspended operations at one unit of the Beznau nuclear plant and reduced output at another due to high river water temperatures, which are critical for cooling systems. The heat is also expected to hit Europe's economy, with Allianz Research estimating a slowdown of 0.5 percentage points in 2025. The report likened the financial toll of one day above 32°C to that of half a day of strikes. Scientists say earlier and more extreme heatwaves are being fuelled by greenhouse gas emissions, warming oceans, and a persistent heat dome over Europe that traps hot air masses. "Extreme heat is testing our resilience and putting the health and lives of millions at risk," said Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme. "Our new climate reality means we can no longer be surprised when temperatures reach record highs each year." The impact is already visible: Greggs in the UK warned of lower profits as hot weather kept customers away. In Germany, many schools shut early, people rushed to swimming pools and lakes, and firefighters battled multiple forest blazes in Brandenburg and Saxony. Elsewhere, tourist landmarks also felt the heat. The upper floor of the Eiffel Tower was closed on July 1, and Brussels' Atomium shut early for the third time this week. Spain saw its hottest June on record, while France experienced its hottest since 2003.
Qatar Tribune
03-07-2025
- Climate
- Qatar Tribune
Swiss nuclear power plant completely shut down due to hot weather
GenevacTypeface:> The more than 50-year-old Swiss nuclear power plant Beznau, located near the German border, has shut down its second reactor due to the high temperatures. The shutdown has nothing to do with the safety of the reactors but is related to environmental regulations, the operator said on Thursday. The operator, Axpo, must adhere to limits on the water temperatures in the river Aare. The plant draws water from the river to cool the reactors and later returns it warmer than before. If the Aare is already very warm due to the outside temperatures, additional warm water cannot be discharged. This is intended to protect the flora and fauna of the Aare, Axpo stated. South of the nuclear power plant, the water temperature was 24.6 degrees Celsius on Wednesday evening, according to the Federal Office for the Environment. (DPA)
Gulf Today
03-07-2025
- Climate
- Gulf Today
New fire threatens homes in Greece as Europe bakes in heatwave
Firefighters battled a blaze Thursday on the island of Crete that scorched forests and olive groves and forced over 1,000 to evacuate, while a fresh conflagration near Athens threatened homes, highlighting Greece's vulnerability to wildfire risks. Italy's health ministry issued red alerts for 18 cities as temperatures poised to soar as high as 38°C in major cities. Temporary blackouts were possible with power consumption surging from the use of air conditioners, Italian Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin warned. Swiss utility Axpo has shut its two reactor units at the Beznau nuclear power plant due to high river water temperatures. Gale-force winds and aridity made for tinderbox conditions, hampering Greek authorities' efforts' to tame the fires, as much of Europe baked in an early summer heatwave linked to the death of at least eight people across the region. An airplane drops water on a wildfire that broke up in Pikermi, east of Athens. AFP A new fire broke out in the Athens suburb of Pikermi on Thursday afternoon, threatening many homes and prompting the evacuation of three settlements as more than 100 firefighters battled to extinguish it. Thick grey smoke billowed over the area, close to the Athens international airport and Rafina, home to the capital's second largest port. The main avenue linking the suburb to Athens was closed to traffic. Authorities said there was a high risk of fires also on Friday. Flames rise next to houses as a wildfire burns in the town of Rafina, Greece. Reuters In Crete, around 230 firefighters, along with 46 engines and 10 helicopters, were deployed to contain the conflagration on Crete, which broke out a day earlier near Ierapetra town on the southeastern coast of Greece's largest island. Authorities declared a state of emergency in the wider municipal area of Ierapetra on Thursday, state broadcaster ERT said. The blaze encroached upon houses and hotels that were earlier evacuated, stoked by intense winds that 'rekindled and hindered firefighting efforts,' fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said. A firefighting airplane drops water as a wildfire burns in Rafina, east of Athens. AP More than 1,000 residents and tourists were evacuated from at least four settlements. Most took shelter at an indoor stadium in Ierapetra, while others transferred to hotels in the north or left Crete by boat, authorities said. 'It was very scary,' said 26-year old Danish tourist Mikkel Sallin, who was evacuated to another hotel. 'We are just glad to stay here right now and feel safe.' Local media reported damage to some homes, and some people were hospitalised with respiratory issues, an official said. Southeastern Crete saw a massive exodus of about 5,000 holidaymakers, George Tzarakis, head of hoteliers in the area, told reporters, expressing concern over the impact on future bookings. Tourism is a key income earner for the popular tourist island. Firefighters gather on a field near the area where an airplane drops water over a wildfire that broke up in Pikermi. AFP Greece and other countries in the Mediterranean are in an area scientists dub 'a wildfire hotspot' - with blazes common during hot and dry summers. These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate. Scientists say heatwaves have arrived earlier this year, spiking temperatures by up to 10°C in some regions as warming seas encouraged the formation of a heat dome over much of Europe, trapping hot air masses. Meanwhile, in Turkey, thousands fled as authorities battled wildfires in Cesme and Odemis districts for a second day on the western coastal province of Izmir. Winds hindered their efforts as the flames approached a main highway to Cesme, local TV footage showed, and thick smoke billowed over mountainous areas. Separately, the Western Balkans faces a severe drought after a heat wave hit the region, disrupting daily life and creating issues with agriculture and power. Temperatures on Thursday in central Albania reached 40°C and meteorologists warned that there would be scarce rain until September. Rivers are almost dry because of a lack of rainfall during winter and spring. The soaring temperatures have pushed Albanian authorities to assist local agriculture with irrigation networks. Agencies
New York Times
03-07-2025
- Climate
- New York Times
Extreme Heat Shuts Down Some Nuclear Reactors in Europe
A record-breaking heat wave in Europe is warming up the river water that some nuclear power plants use for cooling, prompting operators to shut down at least three reactors at two separate sites. Late on Sunday, operators shut down one of the two reactors at the Golfech Nuclear Power Plant in southern France after forecasts that the Garonne River, from which it draws water, could top 28 degrees Celsius, or roughly 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The Beznau Nuclear Power Plant in Switzerland, near the Aare River near the country's northern border, followed suit, shutting down one of its reactors on Tuesday and the other on Wednesday. Both plants are designed to keep their reactors at safe temperatures by cooling them with river water, which is then pumped back out at higher temperatures. Regulations in both countries require operators to reduce energy production when the rivers get too hot, in order to protect downstream environments. The operator of the Beznau plant, Axpo, said that 'excessive warming of the already-warm river water during hot summer periods is to be prevented in order not to place additional strain on flora and fauna.' In a statement, Axpo confirmed that a limit of 25 degrees Celsius had been exceeded for several days in a row. Other river-cooled nuclear reactors, including one at the Bugey plant in southeastern France, have reduced their power generation. Temperatures across Europe have regularly exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit this week, though forecasters say relief is on the way over the weekend. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
