Overview
- EDF disclosed on Sunday that three reactors were taken offline and eight others were run at reduced power, cutting roughly 6.4 gigawatts of nuclear generation from the grid.
- The units taken fully offline were Golfech unit 2, Bugey unit 3, and Chooz unit 2, while other reactors across the fleet operated at lower output to meet thermal-discharge limits.
- Operators say the measures respond to environmental rules that limit how warm cooling water can be when returned to rivers, because higher river temperatures can harm fish and other aquatic life.
- Grid data showed France was expected to remain a net electricity exporter despite the curbs, but officials flagged added pressure on hydropower and short-term supply planning given nuclear supplies make up roughly 70% of the mix.
- Authorities have issued wide red heat alerts and reported increased heat‑related deaths, and EDF has given provisional restart windows for the offline units that depend on cooler weather and river conditions.