As Europe bakes, it's nuclear power plants look much less dependable
Long championed as a steadfast and dependable energy source that trumps the meteorological variations or geopolitical vulnerabilities that come with other forms of power generation, this summer has dealt a blow to the reputation of Europe’s nuclear plants.
Reactors across the continent have been thrown into the spotlight, as parched waterways have fallen to historic lows, or were no longer sufficient to cool the critical energy infrastructure. The phenomenon has already knocked several plants off the grid, while others are within a hair’s breadth of being pulled offline.
Nuclear’s contribution to energy demand will likely fall further as high temperatures persist.
The situation has prompted the industry to seek ways of adapting the technology to a warmer climate, lest Europe succumbs to seasonal power crunches and price spikes that give us yet more reason to sweat.
