Seaweed levels off the east coast of Scotland have reached such high
levels that a nuclear power station in the area has been temporarily
shut down.
EDF
Energy, which operates the plant, said Friday that both reactors have
been taken offline "due to increased seaweed levels as a result of the
severe weather and sea conditions in the area."
The Torness power station has the capacity to produce 1,190 megawatts of power, and supplies 2.5 million homes.
A spokeswoman for EDF
said in an email: "At certain times of year with particular weather
conditions in this part of the Forth Estuary, seaweed volumes can
increase and enter the station's cooling water intake system. The
operational staff are trained to respond in this situation, and to take
the plant offline if necessary."
She said that EDF, a unit of Electricite de France SA (EDF.FR) was monitoring the situation.