Romania Disconnects 1 Cernavoda Reactor as Low Danube Water Hits Nuclear Cooling

3 articles · Updated · TNW · Aug 13

Nuclearelectrica on Thursday began disconnecting a reactor at Cernavoda after low Danube levels left too little water for cooling, cutting into output from a plant that normally provides about 20% of Romania’s electricity.
Romania had tried to keep the unit running by dredging the channel, sinking rock-filled barges and detonating part of the riverbed on Aug. 3 to push more water toward the intake system.
The disruption fits a wider European pattern: Hungary only restarted part of Paks after rain lifted the Danube, while France cut output at several reactors and shut three at Gravelines after a jellyfish influx.
Low water is also disrupting transport on major rivers including the Rhine, while the UK has convened its Cobra emergency committee again with temperatures forecast to reach 38C.
Triodos estimated this summer’s heat could cost the EU €180 billion—about 1% of GDP—through weaker productivity, harvests, energy supply and transport, underscoring water as a growing constraint on power and new data-center demand.