Weather Beznau nuclear power plant shuts down one of its reactors due to the heat
The Beznau nuclear power plant in the canton of Aargau is partially disconnected from the grid due to the heat. One of the two reactors has been shut down. The second unit is still running at an output of 50 percent.
02.07.2025, 09:34
02.07.2025, 09:52
SDA
The reason for the shutdown of one reactor unit on Tuesday is the high water temperature of the Aare, as the operator Axpo announced on Wednesday. The output of the two water-cooled reactors was already reduced by half last Sunday.
Until now, the Aare at the site of the nuclear power plant near Döttingen was still below 25 degrees, according to the press release. Axpo is complying with federal directives when throttling its nuclear power plant. The measure is intended to protect the flora and fauna in the river from excessive pollution.
The order from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) was issued in the wake of the 2018 summer heatwave. The fact that the Beznau nuclear power plant has to reduce its output is due to its design.
Unlike the plants in Gösgen and Leibstadt, it does not have a cooling tower. Instead, the heat that cannot be used to generate electricity is cooled with water that is taken from the River Aare and later released slightly warmed up.
