France Power Prices Jump 22% as Heatwave Cuts 7.3 GW of Nuclear Output
Updated
Updated · OilPrice.com · Aug 11
France Power Prices Jump 22% as Heatwave Cuts 7.3 GW of Nuclear Output
3 articles · Updated · OilPrice.com · Aug 11
Summary
Day-ahead French power prices climbed as much as 21.8% to $164.39 per MWh on Tuesday, ahead of an expected midday nuclear output curtailment on Wednesday.
EDF said the heatwave would cut nuclear generation by 7.3 GW—about 12% of total capacity—as low and unusually warm river water limits reactor cooling and air-conditioning demand lifts consumption.
France, where nuclear supplies about 70% of electricity, already slashed output by 6.4 GW in mid-July during another intense hot spell, showing the disruption is becoming recurrent this summer.
The strain is spreading across Europe: Hungary and Romania were forced to shut reactors this month as Danube water levels hit a 90-year low, though one unit at Hungary's Paks resumed after rainfall.