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الوسم: electricity demand

  • India faces power shortages as heatwave spikes electricity demand to record

    India faces power shortages as heatwave spikes electricity demand to record

    Parts of India are experiencing power outages as record-breaking temperatures push electricity demand to an all-time high of over 270 gigawatts. In response, the government has asked consumers to reduce their energy usage. An El Nino weather pattern is causing above-average summer temperatures across much of the subcontinent this May, with residents in Chennai reporting nighttime outages lasting between 40 minutes and an hour, particularly impacting manufacturing and tech hubs.

    “South Chennai has faced frequent power cuts over the past couple of days, with outages happening at short intervals,” said R Hari, a local resident. “This makes it hard to work from home.” According to the national grid operator, late Thursday evening’s power deficit hit around 2.57 gigawatts.

    The Ministry of Power issued a statement on Friday urging people to conserve electricity during this intense summer period, saying, “Although we are ready to supply electricity as needed, due to the extreme heat, everyone should use power wisely and responsibly.”

    Supply shortages are especially severe in the evenings, as the grid relies heavily on thermal and hydropower sources during those hours. During the day, solar energy partially meets the rising demand. Experts note that the extreme heat and soaring electricity needs are straining India’s power system—highlighting the urgent need to accelerate the development of battery storage systems to better utilize surplus solar power collected at night.

    Weather agencies have forecasted “heatwave to severe heatwave conditions” in New Delhi and much of northern and eastern India from Friday through May 27. Many residents in the capital and nearby Noida have taken to social media to complain about power outages during nighttime. In Odisha, a state on the eastern coast, some consumers have protested longer and more frequent outages that occur both during the day and night.

  • World Bank Rescinds Ban on Nuclear Energy Funding

    World Bank Rescinds Ban on Nuclear Energy Funding

    Overview of the cooling towers and reactors at the Electricite de France (EDF) nuclear power plant in Cattenom, France, on June 13, 2023. — Reuters

    On Wednesday, the President of the World Bank, Ajay Banga, announced that the organization is re-entering the nuclear energy sector “for the first time in decades” in response to increasing electricity demands in developing nations.

    Banga communicated via an email to staff that the World Bank will collaborate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to bolster its advisory capabilities regarding non-proliferation safeguards and regulatory frameworks.

    In his memo, which was reviewed by AFP, Banga highlighted that electricity demand in developing nations is projected to more than double by 2035.

    Meeting this rising demand will require an annual investment surge in energy generation, grids, and storage from $280 billion today to approximately $630 billion.

    The World Bank plans to assist in extending the lifespan of existing reactors in countries that operate them and to promote upgrades to grid infrastructure.

    Additionally, Banga mentioned efforts to accelerate the deployment of Small Modular Reactors, making them a feasible option for more nations in the future.

    Since taking over the development lender in 2023, Banga has advocated for a shift in the bank’s energy policy. This announcement follows a board meeting that was held recenty.

    “Our aim is to help nations provide the electricity their citizens need while allowing them the flexibility to choose the development paths that align with their aspirations,” Banga stated.

    Along with enhancing grid efficiency, the World Bank will also continue to finance the decommissioning or repurposing of coal plants and support carbon capture technologies for both industrial and power generation purposes.

    In April, during the International Monetary Fund and World Bank’s spring meetings, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned that the bank could optimize its resources by aiding emerging countries in increasing energy access.

    He emphasized the need for focusing on “reliable technologies” rather than pursuing “distortive climate finance targets,” which may lead to investments in gas and other fossil fuel energy production.

    Bessent also praised the bank’s move to lift restrictions on nuclear energy support.

    Beyond the change in nuclear financing, Banga revealed that the bank has yet to reach an agreement on whether to engage in upstream gas activities and the conditions under which they should proceed.

    The United States, the World Bank’s largest shareholder, has been vocal in urging the institution to reconsider its ban on supporting nuclear initiatives.

  • Global Clean Energy Reaches 40%, Emissions Still Climbing

    Global Clean Energy Reaches 40%, Emissions Still Climbing

    Solar panels and a wind turbine in an undated image.— Reuters/File

    New information from the climate think tank Ember reveals that in 2024, clean energy sources contributed over 40% of the world’s electricity. This is the highest percentage we’ve seen since the 1940s, according to a report from the BBC.

    However, this surge in renewable energy coincided with a record high in global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which reached 14.6 billion tonnes.

    This increase in emissions is largely attributed to a 4% rise in global electricity demand last year, driven by particularly hot weather during heatwaves.

    “Solar energy has emerged as the driving force behind the global energy transition,” said Phil Macdonald, managing director of Ember. He added, “While the increase in fossil fuel generation in 2024 was influenced by higher temperatures, we are unlikely to see a similar rise in 2025.”

    Notably, solar energy has been the fastest-growing electricity source for 20 consecutive years, with production doubling every three years since 2012. China has played a pivotal role in this expansion, accounting for over half of the global growth, while India has also seen its solar capacity double year over year.

    Despite this rapid growth, solar power still represents less than 7% of global electricity—enough to power the entire nation of India. Wind power contributes just over 8%, while hydropower remains the largest clean energy source at 14%. Nuclear energy accounts for about 9%.

    Nevertheless, the growth of renewable energy sources continues to fall short of meeting the increasing energy demand, especially in rapidly developing countries like India and China. Consequently, the use of fossil fuels has also increased, with coal and gas making up 34% and 22% of global electricity generation, respectively—resulting in a 1.4% overall rise in fossil fuel consumption.

    The European Copernicus climate service has reported that March 2025 was the second warmest March on record, continuing a trend of unseasonably high temperatures.

    Ember has previously projected that CO2 emissions would soon peak, but we have not yet reached that point. This report highlights the ongoing challenge of transitioning to clean energy at a pace that can keep up with the rising global electricity demand.