The heatwave is affecting the lives of tens of millions of people in North America and putting strain on the region's power grid.
Heatwaves across North America are driving up electricity demand from households and businesses. However, supply is being constrained by weather-related issues. Power officials have warned that many areas across the U.S. could face power outages if the summer heat is unusually hot.
"Two-thirds of North America will be at risk of power shortages this summer, at times when demand will surge," said North American Electric Reliability (NERC), the agency that monitors grid stability in North America, in its latest update.
According to NERC, almost the entire area west of the Mississippi River could face power outages "due to extreme weather." New England (USA) and Ontario (Canada) are also facing an increased risk of power cuts.
"This situation is due to several factors, including the scheduled closure of some power plants, the anticipated surge in peak-hour demand, and the difficulty in maintaining a stable power grid during widespread heatwaves," NERC stated.
Several factors impact electricity supply capacity. One is that as coal-fired power plants are phased out, the grid will increasingly rely on clean energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to meet rising demand. However, weather conditions do not always allow for electricity production.
"Low wind speeds and high demand could cause emergency power shortages," analysts at the U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA) said in a report on June 26. Wind power plays a key role in Texas as well as two other regions in the central United States.
Dry weather and low water levels are also impacting hydropower in the area. In addition, NERC reports that new environmental regulations are tightening coal power in 23 states. This is the first summer these new policies are in effect. Supply chain issues and labor shortages are also causing many power plants to cancel or postpone maintenance before summer.
Nevertheless, officials believe they can still ensure electricity supply if demand this year increases at a normal rate. The risk of power outages only arises if there is extremely high heat.
Many Americans in the Southern and Central United States are facing intense heat. On June 26, approximately 40 million people from Arizona to Alabama received heat warnings.
In the deserts and Texas, temperatures are forecast to rise above 43 degrees Celsius. Some places could reach 49 degrees. Meteorologists say the heatwave could last into the next week. Many parts of the U.S. are even predicted to experience above-average temperatures for the next three months.
Ha Thu (according to CNN)
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