URGENT UPDATE: Four reactors at France’s Gravelines nuclear plant face delays in their restart due to an unexpected invasion of jellyfish in the cooling systems. Originally scheduled to resume operations on Tuesday, the reactors will now come online throughout the week, with the first unit anticipated to restart today and the remaining three following daily until all are operational by Friday.
The Gravelines facility, located in northern France, is one of the largest nuclear plants in the country, generating a substantial 5.4 gigawatts of power through its six reactors, each producing 900 megawatts. The delay is particularly concerning as France grapples with a severe heatwave that has placed additional strain on nuclear cooling systems nationwide.
According to data released by EDF, the first reactor, unit 6, had not yet resumed operations by midday on Tuesday. The entire plant was forced offline on Monday after a “massive and unpredictable” swarm of English Barrel jellyfish infiltrated the cooling mechanisms, prompting EDF to take immediate action.
Citizen scientist Aäron Fabrice de Kisangani explained that these jellyfish, which can grow up to 90 centimeters across, were swept into the canal from the harbor due to strong currents. Once in the cooling system, they became trapped, clogging the filters and halting operations. This incident underscores the growing concern over jellyfish blooms, which could become more frequent due to rising sea temperatures and prolonged mild weather during the autumn and winter months.
This is not the first jellyfish-related disruption for nuclear facilities. Similar incidents occurred previously at Scotland’s Torness in 2011 and at Gravelines itself in 1993. As the situation develops, the impact of these environmental challenges on critical energy infrastructure will be closely monitored.
As authorities work to resolve this unusual dilemma, residents and energy consumers are left anxious about the stability of power supply during this heatwave. The delayed restart of these reactors could have significant ramifications for energy availability in the region, highlighting the intersection of environmental changes and energy production.
Stay tuned for further updates as EDF continues to address this urgent situation and restore operations at the Gravelines plant.
