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As temperatures keep rising across Europe, there is growing concern about the pressure on electricity systems and the risks to public health. French energy distributor Enedis said on Monday that underground temperatures can reach up to 80 degrees Celsius (176 degrees Fahrenheit), which could weaken parts of the underground electricity network, according to Franceinfo.
Herve Champenois, Enedis' technical director, warned about possible "network failures, faults, and power cuts" in some areas. The company expects faults in the next few days, but said backup lines are in place.
France's main electricity company, EDF, stopped a reactor at the Golfech nuclear power plant in southwestern France late Monday after the Garonne River's temperature neared its limit of 28 °C, according to BFMTV. A plant spokesperson said the shutdown occurred just before midnight due to environmental regulations related to the heat wave.
EDF estimates that heat waves affect annual nuclear production by around 0.3%.
The United Kingdom's Met Office also issued a warning on Monday, saying that the mix of heat and humidity would affect many areas of society, including public health, infrastructure, and power and water supplies.
Several Italian cities, such as Milan, Bergamo, and Turin, have had temporary power outages. These were caused by higher electricity use for air conditioning and the extra strain that high temperatures put on infrastructure, Sky TG24 reported Monday.
The higher electricity demand is also raising costs. Spain's electricity market operator, OMIE, said the wholesale price of electricity exceeded $114 per megawatt-hour on Tuesday, the first time it has reached that level since March, according to La Vanguardia. The average price was $127 per megawatt hour, matching the first big heat wave of the summer.
Danish energy company Norlys said in a statement on Tuesday that electricity prices are unusually high for this time of year. The company linked the increase to both high temperatures and higher fossil fuel costs, according to broadcaster DR.
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