Why is Beznau potentially more directly exposed to rising river temperatures than Gösgen and Leibstadt, despite all three plants being located within Switzerland’s river systems?

September 09, 2026 Why is Beznau potentially more directly exposed to rising river temperatures than Gösgen and Leibstadt, despite all three plants being located within Switzerland’s river systems? Ayat-Allah Bouramdane Introduction Climate change is... More

September 09, 2026 Why is Beznau potentially more directly exposed to rising river temperatures than Gösgen and Leibstadt, despite all three plants being located within Switzerland’s river systems? Ayat-Allah Bouramdane Introduction Climate change is increasingly challenging the reliability of electricity-generation systems by modifying the environmental conditions on which power plants depend. This issue is particularly relevant for nuclear power plants, because nuclear reactors continuously produce large quantities of heat that must be removed through cooling systems to maintain safe and efficient operation. Consequently, rising temperatures, more frequent and intense heatwaves, droughts, and changes in river temperature and water availability can potentially constrain nuclear-power production, even when the plants themselves remain technically safe. Switzerland provides an interesting case study because nuclear power has historically represented an important component of its electri Less