Four units of the Gravelines nuclear power plant (north) are stopped due to the “Massive and non -predictable presence of jellyfish”in the water pumping stations used to cool reactors, EDF announced on Monday, August 11, in a press release. These gelatinous animals were found in the filters of the pumping stations which aspire the seawater intended to control the temperature of the reactors of the power station.
Gravelines, one of the main power plants in France, is cooled thanks to pumped water in a channel connected to the North Sea. Its six pressurized water reactors produce 900 megawatts each, or 5.5 gigawatts in all.
The gelatinous character of the jellyfish allowed them to pass the first filters of the pumping stations. They then obstructed the filter drums, equipped with a very fine mesh in order to let go of sea water, said La Voix du Nord. At noon, no date of resumption of electricity production had been set. “But it will be done in stages”said the communication department of the power station in the northern daily life.
“The teams of the power plant are mobilized and currently carry out the diagnostics and interventions necessary to be able to restart the production units in complete safety”, announced EDF in its press release.
These automatic judgments of units 2, 3, 4 and 6 “Have not had a consequence on the safety of the facilities, the safety of the staff or the environment”assured the electrician. The power station is thus temporarily completely stopped, because its two other production units 1 and 5 are currently under maintenance.
