Massive jellyfish swarm forces shutdown of major nuclear power plant

Four reactors astatine France’s Gravelines atomic powerfulness plant, located on nan English Channel, were temporarily unopen down complete nan play aft a swarm of jellyfish threatened to clog captious h2o intake systems.

According to nan plant’s operator, respective of nan facility’s accumulation units went offline aft jellyfish were detected successful nan select drums of nan plant’s pumping stations. 

The French multinational electrical inferior institution said nan pumping stations, located successful nan non-nuclear conception of nan site, proviso cooling h2o basal for nan facility’s operation.

“They had nary effect connected nan information of nan facilities, nan information of personnel, aliases nan environment,” EDF said successful a statement.

The Gravelines atomic powerfulness works is 1 of nan largest atomic accommodation successful Western Europe and has been connected to nan grid since nan 1980s.

The impacts of jellyfish connected coastal powerfulness plants is not without precedent, arsenic location person been akin incidents reported astir nan globe during the summer months.

Along nan English Channel, jellyfish sightings are predominant and tin occasionally consequence successful formation closures owed to information concerns for swimmers.

Much of nan North Sea and Mediterranean Sea person knowledgeable above-average h2o temperatures this year, fueling extensive heat waves and creating much favorable conditions for jellyfish.

Previous studies person suggested warmer seas tin besides accelerate jellyfish breeding cycles, expanding nan likelihood of ample swarms.

The accumulation units astatine nan atomic powerfulness works went offline aft jellyfish were seen successful nan select drums of nan pumping stations. AFP via Getty Images

In June, respective French atomic reactors reduced output to limit nan magnitude of discharge into waterways because of record-breaking oversea aboveground temperatures. 

The country’s regulations require operators to debar releasing waste, arsenic overheated h2o tin harm aquatic life.

Warm h2o is known to spot further accent connected marine species, little oxygen levels and disrupt delicate ecosystems.

Jellyfish sightings are very communal on nan English Channel, which has led to formation closures crossed nan area. AFP via Getty Images

Despite nan caller interruptions astatine nan Gravelines plant, France has not reported issues gathering nan request for electricity. 

According to nan World Nuclear Association, nan state generates astir 70% of its energy from atomic power and often exports surplus powerfulness to neighboring nations.

EDF said works teams stay mobilized and are conducting diagnostics and method interventions to clear nan intake systems and safely restart nan affected units. 

The inferior did not opportunity erstwhile it expects to person nan reactors backmost online to make powerfulness for nan grid.