Chinese power grids face extreme demand amid record heatwave

Power grids in Chinese provinces, including Shanghai and Zhejiang, are experiencing unprecedented demand as record temperatures exceed 40°C (104°F). State broadcaster CCTV reported temperatures as high as 43.9°C in eastern regions such as Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Anhui, and Xinjiang in the northwest.

On August 2, Shanghai’s power grid hit a record maximum load of over 40 million kilowatts (kW) due to the heat, driving electricity consumption in the city of nearly 25 million people. This spike in demand has raised concerns about a potential power supply crunch across eastern China, as reported by Reuters.

The increased electricity consumption is primarily due to higher air conditioning usage prompted by the extreme heat, which Chinese meteorologists link to global warming. On August 5, China’s national weather forecaster warned of fire hazards due to excessive power consumption and electrical loads. Daily maximum temperatures at seven national weather stations have breached historical records, with expectations for this trend to continue in the Yangtze River delta, Jiangsu, and Hangzhou regions.

With the heatwave forecasted to persist for up to ten more days, Zhejiang’s State Grid advised residents to turn off air conditioners during milder temperatures and recommended electric vehicle owners charge their vehicles late at night to avoid peak electricity use.

In May 2024, heavy rains across China boosted hydropower generation by increasing capacity at cascade dams, reducing reliance on coal-fired power. However, China has faced inconsistent hydro output in recent years. Between winter 2022 and spring 2023, significantly lower precipitation and higher temperatures led to a sharp reduction in hydropower generation.