The Climate Issue newsletter: The surprising effects of Europe’s heatwaves
Oliver Morton, our planetary affairs editor, on how an unusually hot, dry summer is testing the continent’s infrastructure
When travelling from my home near London to the capital, I encountered a train delay due to speed restrictions caused by hot weather making metal rails expand. My return journey was more problematic when an earlier train derailed outside Lewes, injuring a few people. While the exact cause remains uncertain, it is suspected that the rails may have buckled due to heat or that the drought in southern England and Wales has caused the embankment's clay to dry and sink.
Another derailment occurred in Essex today, adding to suspicions. Europe's scorching summer has exposed the vulnerability of various infrastructure.
The Rhine and Danube rivers in Rhineland-Palatinate are at their lowest levels, forcing cruise ships and barges to reduce their loads. Many dams are producing less electricity due to reduced water input. Serbia's largest hydropower plant, Djerdap 1, is operating at only a third of its normal capacity. Additionally, nuclear plants face challenges as they rely on river water for cooling.
France reduces nuclear plant production due to hot river water, while Romania has shut down two reactors at Cernavoda because the Danube fell too low for adequate cooling water. A state of emergency has been declared in Romania's energy sector, affecting Moldova, which relies on Romanian power. Hungary's Paks reactors, crucial for electricity, have been running at a fraction of their usual capacity. The summer is far from over.
Romania attempted to address the issue by removing riverbed obstructions and sinking rock-filled barges to alter the flow, but it has not been sufficient. Hungary plans to build an emergency weir to raise water levels at Paks, and if necessary, has barges ready for sinking. Long-term solutions are being considered. Germany has shifted away from river traffic, using barges with shallower drafts. Électricité de France has invested in improving resilience for its nuclear and hydropower plants.
Britain's railway operator, Network Rail, will review its heat-related safety measures. Adapting infrastructure for hotter summers is increasingly necessary, but outdated systems pose challenges. Higher temperatures will test existing infrastructure, sometimes beyond its limits.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times - World News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
