EDF, France's state-owned electricity company, is exploring changes to the temperature standards for rivers as a response to the growing challenges of climate change, according to Les Echos, citing sources familiar with the issue. This move comes after 15 of EDF’s nuclear reactors were temporarily shut down this summer due to high temperatures, which affected the cooling systems of the plants. EDF operates 57 nuclear reactors, 42 of which are located along rivers or streams to facilitate cooling. The Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR) sets strict temperature limits for the water at each site to protect aquatic ecosystems from the heat of the water discharged by power plants. These regulations sometimes require EDF to reduce the output of its nuclear reactors. According to a source interviewed by Les Echos, the ecosystem around the Garonne River, which is already frequently at its maximum temperature of 28 degrees near the Golfech power plant in Tarn-et-Garonne, has already changed due to the cooling processes. Nuclear power plants are the third-largest consumers of freshwater in France, accounting for 12% of total usage, after agriculture and drinking water. In some open-cycle power plants, nearly 100% of the water drawn from rivers is returned to the environment, but this process can raise water temperatures downstream by up to 4 to 6 degrees during periods of low water levels, according to EDF. In contrast, reactors with cooling towers, which are recognizable by their steam plumes, return only 77% of the water to the environment. This water is warmed by only a few tenths of a degree, while the remaining 23% is lost as steam. EDF is currently analyzing the experience from the summer to assess the impact of high temperatures on its operations, but the findings are not yet complete. As a result, it is too early to draw final conclusions, according to AFP. The summer of 2023 saw up to 15 of EDF’s nuclear reactors in France shut down simultaneously due to the extreme heat, which disrupted the cooling systems of the plants. This situation has highlighted the increasing vulnerability of nuclear power generation to climate-related challenges, prompting EDF to consider potential adjustments to its operational strategies and environmental regulations.