Unexpected reactor shut downs

In the UK EDF have shut down four reactors (2.3GWs) due to a defect detected in one of the boilers.  It is unknown when they will be up again, an investigation would take at least 8 weeks.  Apparently this is about 6% of UK capacity.

And in Belgium GDF Suez has shut down three nuclear reactors (over 3 GWs) equating to more than half of Belgian nuclear capacity.


Energy security risks in the form of ageing nuclear reactors unexpectedly being shut down must be driving policy makers towards more secure distributed baseload (even better: controllable baseload to cater for renewables).  While seasonal demand is low at this time of the year, they could be in trouble with outages of this scale during the winter season.

Surely our product has a place in these countries!?


EDF shuts two nuclear power stations temporarily
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-28738074

UPDATE 2-Belgian Doel 4 nuclear reactor closed till year-end
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/08/14/belgium-nuclear-doel-idUKL6N0QK43R20140814


Cheers
SynQuasi