California: On Monday, California declared a power grid emergency as scorching heat and ongoing heatwaves threatened to overwhelm the state's electricity infrastructure.

Electricity use in the largest US state reached 48.9 gigawatts on Monday, the highest level since 2017, as millions of homes and businesses turned their air conditioners on to combat temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 Celsius). switched to. Aroused.

The grid operator for the state had estimated power shortage between 5 pm and 9 pm. local time.
According to senior branch forecaster Bob Orweck of the US Weather Prediction Center, Calif., it has been absurdly hot and will continue to be very hot in the coming week.

The blackout likely sheds light on how grids have become vulnerable to extreme weather as they switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

The recent aggressive shutdown of natural gas power plants in California has made the state more dependent on solar farms, which turn dark during the day when electricity demand is at its peak.

The state is facing severe drought, which is reducing hydropower generation.

For the next four days, an extreme heat warning is in place for large parts of California. According to Orweek, Sacramento could break the record by reaching 45 and 46 degrees on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. On Sunday, the temperature in the city of Los Angeles crossed 37 degrees Celsius for the first time this year, reaching a high of 39 degrees.

According to officials, the heat which started in the last week of August is remarkable both for its intensity and duration.

As the heat wave continues, the possibility of power outages has increased. Over time, heat-related seepage into concrete makes cooling buildings more challenging. Additionally, power plants are more prone to failure because they operate at full capacity.
To make room for additional power supplies, California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an emergency proclamation.

According to Elliot Mainzer, wildfires in the area around Los Angeles and San Diego, which pose a threat to transmission lines and power plants, have made it more difficult to maintain electricity in California, though no significant ones as of Sunday afternoon. Not there. There was no interruption. , CEO of the California Independent System Operator, which manages the state's grid.

According to Orvec, a tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean later this week will bring heat relief to Southern California.

Kay, which is expected to intensify into a hurricane later this week, will likely approach the Baja California peninsula in Mexico. The storm will pump clouds and moisture into Southern California and Arizona as it moves north, reducing heat there.

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