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Ujah Glory
Rising heatwave in Switzerland has forced disconnection of Beznau nuclear power plant in Aargau from electricity grid. Swissinfo reports.
While one of the two reactors at the plant has been shut down and ceased to produce electricity, the second unit is still running at an output of 50%.
Axpo, the company that operates the over 50-year-old nuclear power plant was quick to allay fears over safety concerns. It attributed the shutdown to reasons of environmental regulations.
“The reason for the shutdown of one reactor unit on Tuesday is the high water temperature of the River Aare, the output of the two water – cooled reactors was already reduced by half last Sunday.
“Until now, the temperature at the site of the nuclear power plant near Döttingen was still below 25 degrees, Axpo is complying with federal directives by throttling its nuclear power plant. The measure is intended to protect the flora and fauna in the river from excessive pollution.
“Unlike the plants in Gösgen and Leibstadt, it does not have a cooling tower. Instead, the heat that cannot be used to generate electricity is cooled with water that is taken from the River Aare and later released slightly warmed up. “We will continue to produce enough electricity for industry and household consumers.” Axpo announced in a statement.
According to Switzerland’s largest energy producers, the operation of the nuclear power plant is required to respect certain temperature limits for the water in the Aare River, as the plant draws water from the Aare River to cool the reactors and then discharges this water into the river at higher temperatures.
“If the waters of the Aare River are already warmer due to the heat wave, the water heated by the cooling of the reactors can no longer be discharged to protect the flora and fauna of this river.”
The Swiss Federal Environment Agency reveals on Wednesday that the river water temperature was 24.6 degrees Celsius South of the nuclear power plant.
Located less than 10 kilometers from the German border, checks reveal the two reactors at the Beznau plant were commissioned in 1969 and 1971, making it world’s oldest nuclear power plant still in operation.
Swiss federal authorities phased out nuclear power in a 2017 referendum after Japan’s Fukushima disaster in 2011, but allows existing plants as long as they are safe to operate. Axpo has announced that it will close the two reactors at Beznau in 2032 and 2033 respectively.
Record high temperatures have gripped most parts of Europe as extreme heatwave soared to 46C in Spain.
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