A massive swarm of jellyfish has led to the temporary shutdown of the Gravelines nuclear power plant in northern France, one of the country's largest energy facilities. The unexpected influx of marine creatures clogged the plant's cooling system, causing four of its six reactors to automatically shut down, according to EDF, the state-owned energy group operating the plant.

Cooling System Blockage

The incident occurred late on Sunday when the jellyfish swarmed the water intake systems used to cool the reactors. The plant, located between Dunkirk and Calais, draws its cooling water from a canal connected to the North Sea, a habitat for several jellyfish species. EDF assured that the event posed no threat to the safety of the facilities, personnel, or the environment, emphasizing that the jellyfish were found in the non-nuclear part of the plant.

Recurring Marine Life Challenges

This is not the first time jellyfish have disrupted nuclear power operations. Similar incidents have been reported at other coastal plants, including the Torness nuclear plant in Scotland and Sweden's Oskarshamn plant. Marine biologist Ruth Chamberlain noted that jellyfish are more active in warmer months, drawn to the surface by increased plankton levels, making them susceptible to getting caught in cooling systems.

Efforts to Mitigate Future Risks

The repeated interference by jellyfish has prompted scientists to develop predictive tools to anticipate such swarms. Researchers at the University of Bristol are working on an "early warning tool" to help coastal power plants prepare for sudden jellyfish influxes. Despite the current shutdown, EDF confirmed that there has been no impact on electricity exports from France to the UK.