Objection to warmer cooling water from Beznau nuclear power plant
Published: Friday, Jun 7th 2024, 13:00
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The two river-cooled Beznau nuclear power plants in the canton of Aargau should not be allowed to discharge warmer cooling water than before into the River Aare at high temperatures. This is what several environmental organizations are demanding in an objection to the application by nuclear power plant operator Axpo for an adjustment or new discharge permit.
The Federal Office of Energy is to revoke the exemption permit for the discharge of cooling water from the Beznau nuclear power plant, as the Aqua Viva organization announced on Friday. The Aargau and Swiss fishing associations and Greenpeace Switzerland are also among the objectors.
According to the press release, water temperatures of over 25 degrees Celsius could be fatal for fish and other aquatic life. High water temperatures will occur more frequently in the future due to climate change.
In principle, the federal government stipulates that the river temperature of the Aare must not exceed 25 degrees Celsius after the cooling water has been discharged in order to protect the fish. If this is the case for longer than three days, the output of the reactors must be reduced.
Axpo wants easing
As the operator of the Beznau nuclear power plant, the energy company Axpo wants the discharge temperature to be limited to a maximum of 33 degrees Celsius if the temperature of the water from which the water is extracted exceeds 20 degrees Celsius.
Limiting the discharge temperature to 32 degrees Celsius is not necessary from an aquatic ecology perspective, according to the documents relating to the procedure. Biological studies have shown that the impact of the cooling water discharge on aquatic ecology is very small and only very localized.
There is no evidence of fish mortality in the section downstream of the cooling water discharge. Even during the hot spells of recent years, when the water temperature of the Aare exceeded 25 degrees Celsius on several consecutive days, there had been no documented fish deaths.
The application for a possible adjustment or reissue of the discharge permit was open to the public until May 8.
©Keystone/SDA
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