Jellyfish swarms knock out 3.2 gigawatts of French nuclear power

A massive influx of jellyfish has caused disruptions at three nuclear power units at Gravelines, operated by Electricite de France SA, reducing the country's power supply by 3.2 gigawatts. This occurred during a time of extreme heat, which has increased electricity demand. Europe is currently experiencing heat waves, and high temperatures off the French coast can lead to jellyfish population booms.

Coastal nuclear plants like Gravelines often use sea water for cooling, which can expose them to marine life. Two reactors are expected to resume operation by Wednesday night, while two others with a combined output of 1.8 gigawatts might remain offline until the end of the week. EDF is also encountering challenges at other nuclear sites situated on rivers due to the difficulty in cooling reactors without harming the environment. The Gravelines plant has faced similar issues in the past when jellyfish clogged filter drums.