– Jellyfish shut down nuclear reactors (Guardian, June 30, 2011):
Both reactors at a nuclear power station have been shut down after high volumes of jellyfish were found on seawater filter screens.
The units at Torness power station, on the coast near Dunbar in East Lothian, were closed down manually on Tuesday.
EDF Energy, which operates the plant, said the reactors were shut down as a precautionary measure and the public had not been in danger. The screens filter out debris in cooling water entering the plant.
An operation is under way to clear the jellyfish from the waters near the power station and the reactors will be restarted once the numbers have gone down.
An EDF spokesman said: “Reduced cooling water flows due to ingress from jellyfish, seaweed and other marine debris are considered as part of the station’s safety case and are not an unknown phenomenon.
“This was a precautionary action and the shutdown cooling systems performed in a satisfactory manner and both reactors were safely shut down. At no time was there any danger to the public. There are no radiological aspects associated with this event and there has been no impact to the environment.”
EDF Energy could not comment on when the reactors were likely to be started up again.