Jellyfish swarm forces temporary shutdown of French Nuclear Plant

Automatic shutdowns triggered

EDF confirmed that four units at the Gravelines nuclear plant were automatically shut down due to the unexpected presence of jellyfish blocking the filter drums at the pumping stations. The company assured the public that the incident had no impact on the safety of the facility, its personnel, or the environment.

Entire plant offline for inspection

Following the jellyfish incident, the entire site was shut down, with the other two units already offline for scheduled maintenance. EDF stated that inspections were underway to restart the production units safely, with operations expected to resume by Thursday.

No risk of power shortage

EDF emphasised that there is no risk of a power shortage, as other energy sources, including solar, remain operational.

Gravelines: Europe’s largest nuclear plant

Gravelines is Western Europe's largest nuclear power plant, equipped with six reactors, each producing 900 megawatts. The site is also planning the launch of two next-generation reactors, each with a 1,600-megawatt capacity, by 2040.

Rare but not Unprecedented

While EDF noted that such jellyfish-related shutdowns are "quite rare," similar incidents have occurred in the past. The last known impact on EDF operations was in the 1990s, but other countries have experienced disruptions as well — including Sweden in 2013 and Japan in 1999.

Environmental concerns behind jellyfish surges

Experts attribute the increase in jellyfish swarms to overfishing, plastic pollution, and climate change, which have created conditions that help jellyfish populations thrive and reproduce.