Power grids in Chinese provinces including Shanghai and Zhejiang are facing extreme pressure as record temperatures soar to more than 40°C (104°F).
State broadcaster CCTV reported that temperatures of up to 43.9 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit) scorched eastern regions including Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shanghai and Anhui, and Xinjiang in the northwest.
In Shanghai, the maximum load on the power grid exceeded 40 million kilowatts (kW) for the first time on August 2, as temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) pushed up electricity consumption in the city of nearly 25 million people, an industry news source said. BJX.com.
According to ReutersThe spike in electricity demand could lead to power shortages in eastern China.
Electricity consumption has risen mainly due to the increased demand for air conditioning after the extreme heat, which Chinese meteorologists attribute to global warming.
Today (August 5), China’s national weather forecaster warned of potential fire hazards caused by excessive power consumption and electrical loads.
Daily maximum temperatures at seven national weather stations have exceeded local historical extremes and are expected to remain so in areas around the Yangtze River Delta, Jiangsu and Hangzhou.
With the trend expected to continue for another 10 days, Zhejiang’s State Grid advised people to turn off their air conditioners when temperatures are milder. It also advised that electric vehicle owners charge their vehicles late in the evening to spread electricity use away from peak hours during the day.
In May 2024, heavy rainfall in China increased the capacity of the country’s cascade dams, increasing hydropower generation and reducing the need for coal-fired electricity generation. However, it was noted at the time that China has been struggling with erratic hydropower production in recent years. Between the winter of 2022 and the spring of 2023, China experienced significantly less precipitation and higher temperatures than in previous years, leading to a sharp reduction in production.
“Eastern China’s power grids strained by record heat waves” was originally created and published by Energy technologya brand of GlobalData.
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