Suddenly, this summer
As anyone based in a European country will know, this summer has seen a severe drought. In addition to impacts on agricultural outputs (some negative, some positive), fires, water restrictions and reduced river levels, the drought has had impacts on energy generating companies and prices:
“Lower hydroelectric and nuclear output has forced some countries to crank up more costly oil-burning generators, sending energy prices soaring.
The heat has warmed the rivers on which Germany, Belgium and France rely to cool power plants. With the temperature of the Rhine last month reaching 28°C in places, Germany restricted the amount of cooling water nuclear power stations could siphon from tributaries. France raised the temperature ceiling at which power stations are allowed to drain water into rivers, but EDF, the country’s largest electricity producer, was nonetheless forced to import power.”