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How do nuclear plants cool?

Nuclear power stations like Cernavodă generate immense heat, which needs constant cooling to operate safely and efficiently. They typically draw large volumes of water from nearby rivers, lakes, or the sea to condense steam back into water. When water levels drop significantly, as seen in the Danube due to the heatwave, there isn't enough water to maintain this critical cooling process, forcing a shutdown.

Stories that explain this

Jellyfish cause partial shutdown of France's Gravelines nuclear plant Romania shuts its only nuclear plant as river levels drop in heatwave

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