Climate Havoc: Even Jellyfish Can Trip Electricity Supply Now

Heat has begun to impact power infrastructure in unforeseen ways

- DAVID FICKLING

It's not just people who struggle to perform effectively when temperatures soar. The electricity system we depend on to keep us cool has the same problem. A swarm of jellyfish linked to unusually warm waters in northern Europe caused French utility Electricite de France to shut two nuclear power stations this week after these invertebrates clogged up parts of their cooling systems. Other reactors in the country may have to cut output because temperatures in the Rh one and Garonne rivers are too high. In Iraq, supply to most of the country went down last week as millions of pilgrims descended on the city of Karbala for the Arba'in festival, spiking grid demand for fans and air-conditioners as the mercury rose above 40° Celsius.

Even back-up equipment struggles in such conditions: electricity went out and play was suspended at the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament last week after an on-site generator apparently overheated.