France Faces Power Cuts in Case of a Cold Snap, Grid Says
- Record nuclear plant high outages for January creates risk
- Weather forecasts suggest cold snap unlikely at start of year
Cooling towers release water vapor beyond electricity lines at the Nogent nuclear power plant, in Nogent-sur-Seine, France.
Photographer: Cyril Marcilhacy/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
France risks falling short of electricity in the event of a cold snap and low wind next month as an abnormally high number of the country’s nuclear reactors halt for maintenance, the country’s grid operator said.
The stark warning is a reminder that Europe’s energy crunch shows little sign of letting up, despite easing slightly this week. Soaring gas and power prices have forced some manufacturers across the continent to curb output, while governments have responded to the crisis with tax cuts and subsidies, mostly for consumers.