New Delhi: A first-of-its-kind analysis shows that a major share of the increase in electricity demand in 2023 came from a power demand surge during the summer months. A new report published by Climate Trends highlights how increasing temperatures put pressure on power grids, resulting in increased dependence on fossil fuels.
The report finds that in 2023, higher temperatures drove up India’s requirement for fossil fuel consumption by 3%. About 2,853 million units of electricity were generated using fossil fuels to meet the rising power demand during the acute summer months, resulting in additional carbon emissions of over 2 million tons.
“We’ve been misunderstanding the sudden increase in power demand as a sign of only economic development. While there has been development across the country that has resulted in a surge in power demand over the years, our analysis shows that rising temperatures are causing an additional surge in peak power demand,” said Dr. Manish Ram, lead analyst of the study.
The study finds a direct correlation between the increase in power demand and heatwaves. This correlation is clearly evident in urban areas and affluent regions, whereas in rural and underdeveloped regions, power demand during heatwaves remains flat. This is explained by inadequate power infrastructure and the affordability of cooling appliances in rural areas.
“In this first-of-its-kind study, we looked at India’s yearly power consumption patterns and juxtaposed them with hourly temperature increases across the states and union territories of India to reveal how increases in temperature are driving up electricity consumption,” said Dr. Ram.
The year 2025 has already witnessed the hottest February since 1901. According to the IMD prediction, the coming months are expected to be warmer than before. Scientists have repeatedly attributed the fingerprints of human-induced climate change to India’s heatwaves in the last few years.
Heatwaves cause significant risks, especially to vulnerable populations. There is already a surge in energy consumption in February, with peak power demand reaching 238 GW and expected to grow further in March and April 2025.
“Understanding the impact of heatwaves and high temperatures on power demand is crucial for planning annual power capacity additions. Rising temperatures directly contribute to increased electricity demand, ultimately straining power grids and driving up energy costs. The more fossil dependencies we add, the worse the heatwaves will get. This creates a feedback loop where higher consumption leads to more emissions, further exacerbating climate change. Hence, planners need to raise their annual renewable energy capacity targets to account for increased demand due to heatwaves and high temperatures,” said Archana Choudhary, Associate Director, Climate Trends.
The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) annual report on energy trends highlights how heatwaves contributed to an increase in power consumption in 2024. According to Fatih Birol, the Executive Director of the IEA, extreme weather events are impacting energy infrastructure and are now considered one of the major risks to energy security.
“Global temperatures are rising due to continued reliance on fossil fuels. Increasing temperatures are leading to an increase in power demand, and we seem to be burning more fossil fuels to meet the increasing demand. This trend is not limited to India; similar patterns are occurring across many other countries. Reliance on fossil fuels to supply increased power demand during heatwaves further exacerbates the dire situation we are facing. It increases the chances of extreme weather events and, in turn, poses a serious problem to India’s energy security,” said Dr. Ram.
The report recommends that the government urgently ensure summer peak power demand is met from clean and renewable energy sources to reduce dependence on high-emitting fossil fuels, which contribute to global warming and rising temperatures in climate-vulnerable countries like India. The report also recommends using energy-efficient appliances, promoting sustainable buildings, and ensuring equitable energy access across rural and urban areas.
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