Much of China experienced extremely hot weather, causing a record-breaking surge in electricity use, exceeding 1.5 billion kilowatts, according to a Reuters report.
Authorities face a significant challenge as an arc of sweltering heat, linked by meteorologists to climate change, stretches across densely populated southwestern cities like Chongqing and Chengdu to the southern megaport of Guangzhou.
State media reported on Thursday, citing national weather authorities, that a subtropical high weather system in the northwest and southwest led to record-high temperatures at eight weather stations over the past two days.
“The power system is holding up so far,” Chim Lee, a senior energy and climate change specialist at the Economist Intelligence Unit was quoted in the report.
But the real test will come as the summer wears on, and there are still risks of potential power rationing.
Strategic shift
In June, solar energy was the primary driver of increased power generation, contributing 50% of the surge.
Hydropower output also rose compared to 2023, though it remained below 2022 levels, Lee said.
This indicated a significant shift towards renewable sources, with solar leading the way in boosting the nation’s energy supply, while hydropower shows a partial recovery from the previous year.
These remarks follow the National Energy Administration’s announcement on Wednesday of a “record high” in China’s electrical load.
This marks the third time this month the country has experienced such a peak.
The escalating demand for electricity highlights the significant strain on China’s energy infrastructure, prompting concerns about future energy security and the need for sustainable solutions to meet the growing consumption.
The nation’s maximum power output has surged by 55 million kilowatts compared to last year. This summer alone, provincial records have been surpassed 36 times in the world’s second-largest economy.
Rising temperatures
Rising temperatures not only devastate croplands and reduce farm incomes but also pose significant threats to manufacturing centers, potentially disrupting their operations.
Furthermore, key ports face operational strain, leading to broader economic ripple effects. The increased heat also places immense pressure on already overburdened healthcare systems, exacerbating public health challenges.
On average, the southern province of Jiangxi has experienced 21.7 days annually with temperatures exceeding 28 degrees Celsius (82.4 degrees Fahrenheit) over the past decade.
This marks a significant increase from the five to seven days observed at the turn of the century, according to state media.
A blog post by state broadcaster CCTV last week highlighted a traditional practice of sleeping with wax gourds, vegetables believed to absorb body heat, due to the prolonged heatwave.
On Wednesday, animals at the Chongqing Zoo received iced watermelons, according to the official news agency Xinhua.
Respite in sight
However, some relief may be on the way.
Weather forecasters predict temperatures will start to ease from Monday. This is due to a tropical depression east of the Philippines, which is expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Wipha and track across Taiwan towards southern China.
The subtropical high could obstruct the low-pressure system, leading to continued heavy use of air conditioners and increased strain on the power grid.
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