The Beznau nuclear power plant, in the canton of Argovie, arrested one of its two reactors due to the heat, the operator Axpo said on Wednesday. The second block still works at a power of 50%.
The high temperature of the AAR which supplies with cooling water The plant located in Döttingen (AG) is at the origin of the disconnection of one of the two reactors on Tuesday, said the operator Axpo on Wednesday. Last Sunday, the electric group had already lowered the power of the two reactors for the same reason.
Until then, the temperature of the AAR had still remained below the 25 degree mark, writes Axpo. By reducing the power of its power plant, the company sticks to the guidelines of the Confederation in this area.
Protection of flora and fauna
This measure protects the fauna and flora in the river. The rules of the Federal Energy Office (OFEN) which provides for it in such cases had been set up following the scorching summer of 2018.
The reduction of the power of the Beznau power station in this case is linked to its design: it has no cooling tower, unlike the Gösgen and Leibstadt plants. The heat not usable for the production of electricity is cooled there much more in the water taken from the AAR, then rejected slightly warmed in the river.
