Golfech Unit Two Shut Down as Garonne River Hits 28°C Cooling Limit

EDF confirmed the shutdown on 24 June 2026 after intake temperatures breached technical specifications for reactor cooling. Both 1.3 GW units are now unavailable, removing 2.6 GW from the French grid during peak demand. Cross-border imports from Germany and Spain rose immediately to cover the shortfall.

IEA 2025 data show European summer peak demand has increased 4-7% per degree above 30°C as air-conditioning stock grows from 20% to projected 28% penetration by 2030. France historically scheduled nuclear outages for spring and early summer when winter heating loads dominated; rising summer peaks now overlap those windows. Bruegel analysis quantifies the resulting triple squeeze: higher cooling load, reduced thermal efficiency, and forced curtailments at once-through cooled plants.

Operational records indicate French day-ahead prices averaged €142/MWh during the event versus €68/MWh the prior week. Grid operators lack seasonal storage sized for the new summer pattern. Additional 8 GW of firm low-carbon capacity plus demand-response contracts will be required by 2028 to maintain current reliability margins under RCP 4.5 trajectories.

Next maintenance cycles must shift to autumn or incorporate dry-cooling retrofits. Without these changes, simultaneous heat-driven outages and demand spikes will recur annually.