Reference News Network, July 19 - According to the UK's "Independent" website on July 17, as most parts of China are experiencing record-breaking summer heat, the country's power demand has surged to a historical high.

The report said that officials stated that on the 16th, power demand exceeded 1.5 billion kilowatts, setting a new national record. On the 17th, the perceived temperature in some areas is expected to reach 50 degrees Celsius.

Over the past few days, the high temperatures have affected more than 200 million people from Chongqing, a city in the southwest, to Guangzhou, an coastal city. The areas affected by the high temperatures include Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, and Guangdong, whose populations are equivalent to those of Italy, the UK, Spain, and Mexico respectively.

The National Energy Administration of China stated that this is the third time this month that the national power load has set a new record. The latest figure increased by 55 million kilowatts compared to the previous maximum.

This extreme heat is driven by the subtropical high pressure, which absorbs heat and causes hot and dry weather. Experts said that although demand has increased significantly, the power grid can still cope for now.

Li Zhan (a senior energy and climate change expert at the Economist Intelligence Unit) said: "So far, the power system has been relatively stable. But the real test will come with the continuation of the summer."

The report said that the heatwave has affected crops, disrupted factory operations, and put pressure on the healthcare system. However, it has also led to an increase in consumer demand. According to data from JD.com, sales of air conditioners and fans surged by more than 100% in June.

Wang Dan, director of China affairs at Eurasia Group, told Reuters: "This helps sales of large household appliances such as air conditioners."

He said: "The service sector is expected to be boosted, as people will go to watch movies to escape the heat."

The report said that strong solar power generation has supported the surge in power generation, with solar power accounting for half of the increase in power generation in June. Hydropower has also increased compared to 2023. (Translated by Xu Yanhong)

On July 15, staff of the State Grid Yinchuan Power Supply Company's substation operation and maintenance center conducted inspections on equipment at the Yuanlong 110-kilovolt substation in Minning Town (Xinhua News Agency)

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