Jellyfish force partial shutdown of French nuclear plant

For context, a massive influx of jellyfish has led to the partial shutdown of a nuclear reactor in northern France.

Key points

• Two of Gravelines nuclear power station's six units were shut down on Wednesday and Thursday since of the presence of jellyfish in the seawater filtration system.
• While a fourth has been closed for an inspection, a third unit has been shut down since 10 August due to the same matter.
• Measures have been implemented to try to prevent jellyfish infiltration, including a partnership with fishermen who capture and release them further offshore, according to French outlet Ici.
• Gravelines' six units each produce 900 megawatts of power.
• A number of species of jellyfish are native and can be seen around the coast when the waters are warm.

Two of Gravelines nuclear power station's six units were shut down on Wednesday and Thursday since of the presence of jellyfish in the seawater filtration system. It is employed for cooling, Électricité de France (EDF) noted.

Gravelines, one of the country's biggest nuclear power stations located between Dunkirk and Calais in the Hauts-de-France region, was additionally closed last August as of jellyfish in its filters. According to EDF, units three, four and six were now shut.

While units one and two were additionally operating at reduced power as a preventative measure, unit three had only been reconnected to the grid on 18 August after the first wave of jellyfish earlier this month, the firm stated.

Gravelines' six units each produce 900 megawatts of power. The station is cooled from a canal connected to the North Sea.

For context, a number of species of jellyfish are native and can be seen around the coast when the waters are warm.

Jellyfish are at their most active in the warmer months. Hot weather increases plankton levels at the water's surface, drawing jellyfish up, experts say.

There have been similar problems at other nuclear stations, including at the Torness plant in Scotland in 2011 and Sweden's Oskarshamn plant in 2013, but such cases are rare.

In short, jellyfish force partial shutdown of French nuclear plant is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.