Following the reactor shutdowns, EDF is considering raising the thermal thresholds of the rivers.
EDF is considering raising the temperature limits for waterways used by its nuclear power plants for cooling. This possibility, reported by France Inter on September 28, 2026, comes after a summer marked by power reductions and reactor shutdowns during periods of extreme heat. It has raised concerns among environmental protection groups.
Reactors affected by heat
The power plants in question draw water from rivers to cool their facilities, then discharge some of it back into the water. When the temperature of these discharges reaches permitted levels, the reactors must reduce their power output or shut down to limit damage to ecosystems.
In mid-August, 13 reactors were simultaneously shut down or operating at reduced power. According to reports from France Inter, this represented a 20% reduction in production capacity. In total, 42 of EDF’s 57 reactors are located near a waterway.
Raising the thresholds: a controversial approach
According to information from Les Échos , confirmed by France Inter, EDF is considering raising the standards governing water temperature in rivers. Emmanuelle Galichet, a lecturer and researcher in nuclear science and technology at the CNAM (National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts), points out that biodiversity meaments are taken near discharge points and that, according to her observations, they have not shown any significant changes.
This approach is contested by Agir pour l’Environnement (Act for the Environment). Its general delegate, Stephen Kerckhove, believes that raising the thresholds could harm wildlife and vegetation without solving the problem in the long term. He asserts that the temperature of the Garonne River increases by half a degree every ten years.
An economic challenge and another experiment
The availability of reactors also represents a financial issue for EDF. Emmanuelle Galichet indicates that during periods of « normal » electricity prices, a day of production from a reactor represents approximately one million euros in revenue for the company.
Meanwhile, EDF is testing a system at Civaux designed to cool the blowdown water from air-cooled condensers before it is discharged, so that the discharged water is less hot. The source does not specify the timeline for any potential changes to the standards or the outcome of this experiment.
Source: Economy: podcasts and economic news from Radio France (www.radiofrance.fr)
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