Amidst record-breaking heatwaves gripping large parts of China, the country issued a warning on Wednesday regarding potential power supply disruptions.
Authorities also advised the elderly to take precautions against heatstroke as residents struggled to cope with the extreme temperatures, according to a Reuters report.
Surge in demand
China is grappling with unprecedented energy demands, as the nation’s power supply struggles to keep pace with surging consumption.
Last week, the national electricity demand surpassed 1.5 billion kilowatts for the first time in history, marking a critical new benchmark, according to the report.
This record-breaking surge in demand represents the third such new peak experienced by China within the current month alone, according to statements from energy officials.
The escalating power consumption is occurring amidst a period of extreme heat, which has also prompted China to issue its inaugural nationwide alert concerning heat-related health risks, further exacerbating the challenges faced by the national energy grid.
The confluence of soaring temperatures and rapidly increasing industrial and domestic energy needs is placing immense pressure on the country’s power infrastructure, raising concerns about potential shortages and the broader implications for public health and economic stability.
Impact on power generation
Weather official Chen Hui told a press conference on Wednesday:
High-temperature weather will…have an impact on power generation and supply.
He added that it would hit hydropower output and reduce the efficiency of photovoltaic generation.
Chen, an official with the China Meteorological Administration, also stated that authorities would issue alerts to electricity suppliers when strategies like peak-shaving and cross-regional power dispatching are necessary.
Temperatures have soared to unprecedented levels since the middle of March, with the number of days reaching 35 degrees Celsius or more hitting a new record.
This alarming trend was confirmed by Jia Xiaolong, deputy director of the National Climate Centre, highlighting a significant and concerning shift in global weather patterns.
The sustained high temperatures suggest a more intense and prolonged heatwave season than ever before.
This escalation in extreme heat events poses considerable challenges for public health, agriculture, and infrastructure, underscoring the urgent need for robust climate action and adaptation strategies to mitigate the escalating impacts of climate change.
Record temperatures
Authorities advised the elderly to remain indoors unless absolutely necessary, and urged outdoor workers to reduce their activity on these “sauna days.”
Since mid-March, new record-high temperatures have been observed across several Chinese provinces.
These include the central provinces of Henan and Hubei, Shandong in the east, Sichuan in the southwest, and Shaanxi and Xinjiang in the northwest.
This put the national average to the second highest ever, according to the report.
Jia Xiaolong reported that over the past two weeks, 152 national weather observatories recorded temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
One observatory in Xinjiang even reached 48.7 degrees Celsius (119.7 degrees Fahrenheit).
He hinted at the possibility of August being as warm as, or even warmer than, recent years, suggesting more record-breaking heat could be on the horizon.
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