4 days ago
Heatwaves and Jellyfish Are Causing the Grid to Wilt
It's not just people who struggle to perform effectively when the temperature starts to soar. The electricity system we depend on to keep us cool is having the same problem.
A swarm of jellyfish linked to unusually warm waters in northern Europe caused French utility Electricite de France SA to shut two nuclear power stations this week, after the invertebrates clogged up parts of their cooling systems. Other reactors in the country may have to cut output because temperatures in the Rhône and Garonne rivers are too high. In Iraq, supply to most of the country went down on Monday as millions of Shiite pilgrims descended on the city of Karbala for the Arba'in festival, spiking grid demand for fans and air conditioners as the mercury rose above 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).
