Swiss Beznau Nuclear Power Plant Fully Resumes Operation After Shutdowns

Swiss energy company Axpo stated that the Beznau nuclear power plant, which had been temporarily shut down several times due to multiple heatwaves this summer, has now fully resumed operation.

Located in northern Switzerland, the Beznau nuclear power plant uses water from the Aare River for cooling. Recently, many parts of Europe have experienced high temperatures, causing abnormally elevated water temperatures in the Aare River, which led to temporary shutdowns of the plant in June and July. The Aare River basin covers nearly half of Switzerland, with the river eventually flowing into the Rhine.

Axpo stated that Unit 1 of the Beznau nuclear power plant resumed operation on August 21; Unit 2, after completing refueling and overhaul, was reconnected to the grid on Thursday and is currently gradually increasing output, expected to reach full power in approximately two days. Unit 2 was shut down on August 4 for planned refueling, during which 20 of the 121 fuel assemblies in the core were replaced.

The two units of the Beznau nuclear power plant were commissioned in 1969 and 1971 respectively, making them among the oldest nuclear units still in operation worldwide. Nuclear power currently provides more than one-third of Switzerland's electricity. Switzerland has four aging nuclear reactors in operation, including the two units at Beznau, which together meet about one-tenth of the country's electricity demand.

This summer, due to high temperatures and elevated cooling water temperatures, several nuclear power plants across Europe implemented power reduction measures or temporary shutdowns.