BELGIUM/UNITED KINGDOM: Solar power generation in southern Europe played a crucial role in preventing energy shortages during recent heatwaves. The peak sun’s radiation during the hottest part of the day coincides with electricity demand for cooling, making solar power ideal for surviving summer heat.
Spain and Greece have increased solar panel installations due to record-breaking energy prices and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
This month, typically the sunniest, saw solar energy produce 24% of Spain’s electricity, up from 16% in July 2022. Solar energy met nearly half of the surplus demand, totalling 1.3 GW, in Sicily, which experienced a more than double increase in solar energy production compared to July 2022.
Grids under heavy load cannot be sustained by solar alone. In eastern Sicily’s Catania, water and electricity outages have been partially attributed to heat.
Solar energy has covered over 100% of the extra energy required during midday increases in power demand, even in cooler and less sunny Western countries like Belgium.
Solar energy remains a small portion of the global power mix, despite its rapid rise. Europe’s energy systems remain operational this summer due to low electricity demand since Russia stopped supplying gas during the energy crisis. This has led to households and businesses using less energy due to high energy prices.
Extreme heat this summer has broken this trend, but overall demand remains below average. Refinitiv statistics show Spain and Italy’s average hourly power use in July was 4.4% and 3.6% lower than in 2022.
Scientists predict that Europe’s energy infrastructure will be burdened by increased heatwaves, like the one in southern Europe, leading to climate change. Heatwaves and droughts in previous years reduced hydropower generation, hindered fuel transportation and required nuclear power reactors to reduce output due to high river temperatures.
SolarPower Europe urges policymakers to accelerate energy infrastructure investments and support solar-storage hybrid projects to achieve climate change goals by accelerating solar power expansion.
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