The torrential heat wave in the northwest underscores the fragility of our networks

The record heat waves in the northwestern United States provide the latest example of how ill-prepared we are to face the deadly challenges of climate change.

The triple-digit temperature has created high energy demands and voltages in the grid, as residents load fans and air conditioners, many of which have recently acquired units in places they were rarely required in the past. At least thousands of homes lost power around Portland, Seattle and elsewhere in recent days, creating potentially dangerous situations between temperatures that can cause heat stroke or worse.

Observers are concerned that there could be wider disruptions as temperatures rise this week and heat waves reach other regions.

Climate change is becoming more frequent, extreme and widespread in heat waves around the world, according to climate scientists found consistently. In this case, a high-pressure peak parked on the Canadian border created what is known as the heat dome, trapping hot air in an area that extended as far north as California and east to Idaho.

California network operators he announced it is likely that they would voluntarily demand a reduction in electricity use on Monday, with planned supply shortfalls as temperatures reach the mid-100s in the interior of the state.

While the main concern is the increase in demand that residents call air conditioning, the heat itself can damage the connection in other ways as well, says Arne Olson, Energy and Environmental Economics Inc. major partners in the consulting firm, among other issues. it can reduce the efficiency of power plants, heat transformers and power lines can fall brush against trees and cause interruptions.

California faces an additional challenge of obtaining less hydroelectric power than usual extreme drought conditions. In addition, operators of interconnected western networks will not be able to count on the oversupply of other sites because heat waves affect such a large area of ​​the country, Olson added.

In many ways, what we are seeing is an electrical system built for the climate of the past that is increasingly struggling with today’s climate, says Jane Long, former director of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Strengthen our electricity systems to make more or more frequent or severe types of extreme weather, heat waves this summer or last winter storms—Significant upgrades to US networks will be required, including: access to modern transmission and distribution systems; “weather”Generating sources such as wind turbines or natural gas installations; and adding much more energy storage.

As many power plants as possible can also be developed provide a stable supply Long says it can be on any weather scenario or at any time of the day. This will be more difficult as the regions are constantly changing as wind and solar energy change. Long and other research they found states will need to incorporate additional carbon-free sources that can provide on-demand sources such as geothermal, nuclear, hydrogen, or natural gas facilities with systems that can capture climate emissions.

We need it too increasingly effective and climatic forms of air conditioning systems.

Power outages are not a mere hindrance to heat waves, they can die quickly, as depleting heat becomes a heat stroke, says Stacey Champion, a community advocate who has monitored indoor heat deaths in Arizona. it encouraged local availability interrupting interruptions during high temperatures. “He’s known as a silent killer,” Champion says.

In fact, hot waves are killing many Americans along with hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes. Children, the elderly, and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable.

Research has found them deaths and illnesses caused by high temperatures will increase as climate change accelerates.