Jellyfish force partial shutdown of French nuclear plant
The Gravelines nuclear power plant in France has been forced to partially shut down due to a massive influx of jellyfish clogging its seawater cooling systems. This is a recurring issue for the facility, which relies on North Sea water for cooling.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to environmental and ecological shifts, potentially impacting regional energy stability.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, The Gravelines nuclear power plant is cooled from a canal connected to the North Sea
A massive influx of jellyfish has led to the partial shutdown of a nuclear reactor in northern France.
Two of Gravelines nuclear power station's six units were shut down on Wednesday and Thursday because of the presence of jellyfish in the seawater filtration system, which is used for cooling, Électricité de France (EDF) said.
A third unit has been shut down since 10 August due to the same issue, while a fourth has been closed for an inspection.
Gravelines, one of the country's biggest nuclear power stations located between Dunkirk and Calais in the Hauts-de-France region, was also closed last August because of jellyfish in its filters.
EDF said that units three, four and six were now shut.
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