Global Warming Shuts Down Nuclear Power
Global warming is supposed to be combated by green energy. One of the components of green energy is nuclear power. As AI data centers and air conditioning consume more energy, power providers can increase their use of green energy sources or revert to fossil fuels. One recent issue has hurt that trend. Extremely hot weather necessitates the shutdown of some nuclear facilities.
According to The New York Times, “A record-breaking heat wave in Europe is warming up the river water that some nuclear power plants use for cooling, prompting operators to shut down at least three reactors at two separate sites.” These were the Golfech Nuclear Power Plant in France and the Beznau Nuclear Power Plant in Switzerland.
One challenge is that the hot weather then causes the problem of not getting any cooler. Parts of Europe have suffered through 100-degree F weather. In one case, the figure hit 107 degrees. Scientists have warned that this EU summer trend is likely to worsen.
The AI Challenge
Much of the US has faced extreme heat already this year. A map of nuclear power plants shows that many are in the Southwest. Another large area is in the Northeast, which posted 100-degree F temperatures last week.
Nuclear power has had challenges in the US since one of the reactors at Three Mile Island partially melted down in 1979. Many Americans still say they would not want a plant within hundreds of miles from their homes. The rise of small modular reactors could increase the number of locations by dozens within a decade.
The US has a special problem. Is it, for now, the world’s leader in AI? That means server farms have become increasingly important. They hope to develop their own energy sources, but currently rely on traditional institutions. Many of these are at their energy-producing limits. And, many need nuclear power to solve that problem.
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