Over the past three days, Europe has been experiencing a start to summer with high temperatures, which could reach up to 40 degrees, impacting energy prices. In France, the state energy company, EDF, deactivated the Golfech nuclear power plant in the south of the country.
The decision was taken as a measure to prevent the warming of the Garonne River, which supplies the water used to cool the plant. Switzerland also ordered its power plants to be reduced due to the extreme heat.
“The weather conditions of the last few days have caused a significant rise in the temperature of the Garonne River, which is expected to reach 28°C this Monday, June 30, 2025,” it says statement published by the state-owned EDF. The company did not mention when the plant would be able to return to operation.
Low demand impacts energy prices in Germany
As electricity markets in Europe are interconnected, the impact has gone beyond France's borders. The drop in nuclear generation, coupled with low wind power production in the region, has caused electricity prices to soar in Germany.
On Tuesday night (1), the value per kilowatt-hour reached 76 cents at peak time, according to data from the supplier Tibber, which operates with prices based on the dynamic market. The price jump is explained by the temporary shortage of supply, caused by extreme weather conditions.
Situations like this have happened before, but they are becoming more frequent. In recent summers, nuclear power plants in countries such as France, Switzerland and Germany have already reduced their production due to the overheating of rivers and lakes.
According to the German Weather Service (DWD), the forecast is that high temperatures will continue. As a result, Germany could face one of its hottest summers ever. The meteorological agency indicates that there is an 81% chance that, by August, the country will exceed the temperatures of the reference period between 1991 and 2020.
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