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With the Grand Canal d'Alsace in the
foreground one can see the Fessenheim
reactors. They are the oldest operating
nuclear power plant in Europe. Designed in
the 1960s to withstand a 6.7 Richter event,
these two pressurized water reactors
generate 900 million watts.
We note that Clint Eastwood fans will recall
a mention of Fessenheim in his 1976 "Dirty
Harry" film The Enforcer.
foreground one can see the Fessenheim
reactors. They are the oldest operating
nuclear power plant in Europe. Designed in
the 1960s to withstand a 6.7 Richter event,
these two pressurized water reactors
generate 900 million watts.
We note that Clint Eastwood fans will recall
a mention of Fessenheim in his 1976 "Dirty
Harry" film The Enforcer.
We are mathematically more concerned about several other French facilities:
Gravelines, Penly, Flamanville, Paluel and Blayais. In one sense, it is good that France
has many reactors and a great deal experience operating them successfully. This means
that were one reactor like Fessenheim to have trouble or simply be taken offline, the
nation would still produce more than enough electricity. Today, nearly 20% of France's
total electrical production (roughly 100 terawatts) is exported to Italy, Belgium, the
Netherlands, Germany and England. France actually has an impressive amount of
excess capacity. Somewhat ironically, in the case of nuclear power, this is undesirable
from both an engineering and a financial perspective. None of those international
consumers depend on French production. Blayais would likely be sheltered from a
North Sea / English Channel tsunami, but all five reactor complexes mentioned would
be vulnerable to an Atlantic tsunami.
Gravelines, Penly, Flamanville, Paluel and Blayais. In one sense, it is good that France
has many reactors and a great deal experience operating them successfully. This means
that were one reactor like Fessenheim to have trouble or simply be taken offline, the
nation would still produce more than enough electricity. Today, nearly 20% of France's
total electrical production (roughly 100 terawatts) is exported to Italy, Belgium, the
Netherlands, Germany and England. France actually has an impressive amount of
excess capacity. Somewhat ironically, in the case of nuclear power, this is undesirable
from both an engineering and a financial perspective. None of those international
consumers depend on French production. Blayais would likely be sheltered from a
North Sea / English Channel tsunami, but all five reactor complexes mentioned would
be vulnerable to an Atlantic tsunami.