Nuclear power plant shuts down due to jellyfish invasion

One of the largest nuclear power plants in Europe was forced to close this week after an unexpected invasion.

The Gravelines nuclear power plant in Northern France, which is located between Dunkirk and Calais, was completely closed on Monday, 12.08.25 after blocking a lot of sea water purchase systems. Based on the water from the North Sea to cool the reactors, the facility saw that four of the six units were automatically closed just before midnight when filter drums were overwhelmed. Hours later, the fifth reactor watched.

Each unit in Gravelines produces 900 megawatt power, which makes the disruption an important stroke for the energy supply of the region. Fortunately, the French energy giant EDF confirmed that the incident was not a threat to the staff, the environment or the facility itself.

The jellyfish did not damage the pumps, but the reactors should be removed before the restarts and the filters should be cleaned.

This for the first time, the Gravelines region has not seen flocks of jellyfish, similar events have been washed on nearby beaches in recent years. Experts say the increase is probably due to rising sea temperatures caused by global warming and the spread of invading species.

Derek Wright, the US National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, explained: “When the water is warmer, the jellyfish produces faster and the areas such as the North Sea become warmer, the reproductive window becomes wider and wider. Jellyfish, tanker ships, ride and exhibit ballast tanks around the world.

“Everyone talks about nuclear nuclear, but we do not think about the unwanted consequences of heat pollution.”