The heat wave that runs through the Peninsula yesterday triggered the demand for electricity to the highest levels so far in August. Yesterday, at 2:25 p.m., consumption reached 35,214 megawatts (MW), the maximum for the month, and the forecast of the system operator was that the figure could even be exceeded before midnight, according to data from Red Eléctrica .
The rise in demand came precisely on the worst day of the fourth heat wave this summer, with temperatures that exceeded 42 degrees Celsius in areas of the north of the peninsula such as Vizcaya, according to the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet). The warm and stable air mass that triggers the current heat wave began on Sunday and is expected to last until tomorrow.
The high temperatures have spread evenly across the Peninsula and this contributes to the increase in demand throughout the electrical system. At the time when maximum demand was recorded yesterday, photovoltaic energy, with 37% of generation, was the one that covered most of consumption, ahead of 22% of gas combined cycles, 17% of nuclear and 10% of wind. At that time, the contribution of hydraulics was non-existent.
The levels of yesterday are still below the maximum of last summer, which also occurred in a heat wave in August, on the 2nd, and which reached 36,435 MW. The historical maximum demand in summer occurred on July 19, 2010, with 41,318 MW at 1:30 p.m.
Despite the intensive use of air conditioners and fans, the highest electricity consumption usually occurs in the coldest months. The absolute record is still held on December 17, 2007, with a consumption of 45,450 MW at 6:53 p.m.
The strong demand contributes to raising the price of electricity, which today stands at 132.9 euros per megawatt hour (MWh). It is a little less than yesterday’s 134.9 euros, when the maximum since March 15 was reached.
Gas combined cycles are the ones that set the marginal price in most of the hours. The price of gas, which quadrupled last year after the invasion of Ukraine, has normalized, but is not exempt from volatility.
In the last month, the price of gas on the Dutch TTF market has risen by 40% due to higher international consumption and the strike by workers of two liquefied natural gas (LNG) operators in Australia, Chevron and Woodside Energy.
