zlacker

The variability of France’s nuclear fleet is harder on the generator (valves and structures susceptible to thermal stresses in particular), and a possible contributor to their inability to keep their fleet in good repair.

Arguably, if cost effective, nuclear is best run at full output as consistently as possible, with other systems buffering that supply with demand (hydro storage, batteries, demand response, etc).

https://www.laka.org/nieuws/2022/so-how-flexible-is-nuclear-...

https://www.ianfairlie.org/news/french-report-nuclear-power-...