# EDF Cleared to Prepare Two New Reactors at Gravelines Despite Jellyfish-Linked Shutdowns

> By  · Published 2026-08-24 · Updated 2026-08-24
> https://economysignal.com/en/2026/08/24/edf-cleared-to-prepare-two-new-reactors-at-gravelines-despite-jellyfish-linked-shutdowns/

## Summary
EDF has been authorized to begin preparatory work on two new reactors at its Gravelines nuclear plant in northern France, despite the facility recently shutting down three reactors due to a jellyfish influx. Early August also saw about a fifth of France's nuclear capacity go offline amid a heatwave and the jellyfish disruption.

## Key points
- EDF authorized to prepare installation of two new reactors at Gravelines plant
- Three existing reactors at Gravelines were shut down due to a jellyfish swarm blocking cooling systems
- Roughly one-fifth of France's nuclear capacity went offline in early August amid heatwave and jellyfish issues

[EDF](https://economysignal.com/en/tag/edf/) has been given the green light to start preparatory work for two additional nuclear reactors at its [Gravelines](https://economysignal.com/en/tag/gravelines/) power station in northern France, the company confirmed. The authorization comes shortly after the same plant was forced to shut down three of its existing reactors due to a sudden influx of jellyfish clogging cooling water intakes.

## Why did jellyfish shut down reactors at Gravelines?

Jellyfish swarms clogged the cooling water filtration systems at the Gravelines plant, prompting EDF to take three reactors offline as a precaution in recent weeks. Nuclear facilities located along coastlines or estuaries draw seawater to cool their reactors, and large concentrations of jellyfish can obstruct intake pipes, forcing operators to halt production until the blockages are cleared.

> Such incidents highlight the growing operational risks facing coastal nuclear infrastructure during warmer months, plant operators note.

## How much nuclear capacity was affected in early August?

In early August, roughly one-fifth of France’s total nuclear generating capacity was taken offline, a disruption attributed to a combination of an intense heatwave and the jellyfish-related shutdowns. High temperatures can also limit nuclear output when river or sea water used for cooling becomes too warm, forcing reactors to reduce or suspend activity to comply with environmental discharge regulations.

## What does the Gravelines expansion mean for EDF’s nuclear strategy?

The go-ahead to prepare two new reactors at Gravelines signals EDF’s continued push to expand France’s nuclear fleet despite the operational vulnerabilities exposed this summer. The move aligns with the French government’s broader strategy to bolster nuclear power as a low-carbon energy source, even as climate-related pressures — from marine life disruptions to extreme heat — increasingly test the resilience of existing infrastructure.

## Source

- [Business Europnews](http://fr.euronews.com/business/2026/08/22/edf-autorise-a-preparer-linstallation-de-deux-nouveaux-reacteurs-nucleaires-a-la-centrale-) — Business Europnews
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## Sources
- [Business Europnews](http://fr.euronews.com/business/2026/08/22/edf-autorise-a-preparer-linstallation-de-deux-nouveaux-reacteurs-nucleaires-a-la-centrale-)