3/13/2023 0 Comments Replacing fossil watch batteriesIn extreme heat, transmission and distribution lines often start to lose more of their electricity in the act of moving it, as well. And the wind can stop blowing during heat waves, causing turbines to produce less energy. Operators of fossil fuel and nuclear plants, for instance, can have trouble cooling the sites because they have to use warmer water. Unusually high temperatures erode the efficiency of power plants - including those that run on renewables, fossil fuels and nuclear power, experts said. Yesterday, President Joe Biden announced six new initiatives aimed at lowering power bills in the face of extreme temperatures, including a program enabling those living in government-supported rental housing to sign up for community solar projects ( Greenwire, July 27).Īs the summer unfolds, here are three issues to watch for the U.S. The impacts of heat waves on low-income households also are a growing concern for consumer advocates and the Biden administration. “California imports around 25 percent of their power, so they may be uniquely impacted by widespread heat.” “If California is experiencing very high temperatures, it’s likely Nevada is too, and so there won’t be as much power in Nevada that can be sent to California,” she said. Still, heat waves can sometimes have “correlation effects” across states and grid regions, making it more difficult for grid operators to rely on their neighbors, the University of Colorado’s Baker said. Recently, PJM has been able to support other grid regions by exporting electricity during the hot weather, said Jeff Shields, a spokesperson for the organization. PJM Interconnection, the largest grid region by population covering portions of the eastern United States, approached its forecasted peak summer demand in July, but the region continues to have sufficient generation to keep power flowing. On June 23, MISO experienced a new peak of 2,007 megawatts of solar capacity, driven in part by weather but also an increase in solar generation resources overall, said Brandon Morris, a spokesperson for MISO. In New England, power plants in the region generally burn more gas and oil during summer heat waves, whereas renewables and nuclear tend to continue running “if available,” said Matthew Kakley, a spokesperson for ISO New England, which oversees the grid.īy contrast, solar output this summer has recently been higher than in previous summers in the Midwest - specifically, the 15-state grid region run by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). cities to hit record-breaking high temperatures in July, according to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information. Over 11 million people in Washington, Oregon, California and Idaho were under excessive heat warnings as of Friday, according to the National Weather Service. “If there’s more pressure put on the system, any weakness is more likely to become more apparent,” he said. Heat can also strain energy infrastructure, creating the risk of malfunctions or pieces that melt or become inoperable. For example, many gas power plants lack on-site fuel storage. As aging fossil fuel plants retire, there needs to be enough new generation to replace them in order to keep the lights on in a warming world, said Paul Patterson, a utility analyst at Glenrock Associates LLC.Īt the same time, extreme weather puts a spotlight on the existing energy system and its vulnerabilities, Patterson added. But analysts note that these events themselves can worsen greenhouse gas emissions, as power plants run more frequently to meet energy demand for air conditioning.Įxtreme weather also has potential political ramifications for the transition to renewable energy. Like other extreme weather events, prolonged heat waves have become more common worldwide due to climate change. The efficiencies of the plant also decrease if they’re not sufficiently cooled,” Kyri Baker, an assistant professor of engineering at the University of Colorado, Boulder, said in an email. “Many forms of thermoelectric generation, like coal and nuclear, that utilize water for cooling, can be heavily impacted by drought and hot water temperatures. In some parts of the country, heat has also been linked to drought, creating challenges for hydropower and thermal plants that rely on water for temperature control. While grid operators say the electricity system has largely held up so far this summer, Texas - where the grid remains under close watch after blackouts last year - saw record-breaking power demand during the latest heat wave and issued two conservation alerts to energy consumers in July. From the Pacific Northwest to coastal New England, millions of Americans have endured sweltering temperatures in recent weeks, driving record energy consumption and offering a snapshot of emerging risks facing the nation’s power system.
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