On August 12, wholesale electricity prices in France will rise to the highest in a month. The reason will be the shutdown of one of the largest nuclear power plants in the country. Jellyfish got into the reactor cooling systems.
According to the Nord Pool exchange, on August 12, the average electricity price in France will rise to almost 80 euros per MWh. This will be the highest price since July 18.
At peak times, the cost of a megawatt will rise to 155 euros.
Before that, average prices were a third lower.
The reason for the price jump may be the shutdown of four reactors of the Gravlin nuclear power plant in northern France. They accounted for about 8% of all electricity generation in the country in August. Jellyfish from the North Sea got into the cooling systems of four reactors. While two more reactors are in preventive maintenance.
The shutdown of the reactors due to marine life occurred inopportunely. Earlier, the operator EDF warned that due to the high temperature of the rivers in the country, which are used to cool the reactors of nuclear power plants, the power of nuclear generation will have to be reduced. Nuclear power plants account for about 70% of the country's energy supply. And its loss is compensated by gas power plants, whose cost is higher.
To this may also be added a decrease in the capacity of green power plants due to the weather.