Heatwaves Ignite India’s Power Surge in 2024, Report Reveals

India’s electricity demand jumped 10.4% during the scorching April-June 2024 heatwave period compared to 2023, with air conditioning driving nearly a third of the increase, per Ember’s latest Global Electricity Review. Globally, heatwaves fueled a fifth of 2024’s power demand rise, boosting fossil fuel generation by 1.4% and pushing emissions up 1.6% to a record 14.6 billion tonnes. In India, April -September demand rose 6.1%, with 19% tied to higher temperatures, peaking at 10.8% during the heatwave months.

India’s 2024 power demand grew 5%, with clean energy meeting 33% of the increase and coal 64% down from 91% in 2023. The report noted economic growth as the key driver, with cooling needs spiking, especially in May when it accounted for over a third of the demand surge. Meanwhile, a separate study warned that 130-150 million new air conditioners by 2035 could push peak demand up by over 180 GW, straining the grid a projected 9-10% summer demand hike.

The India Meteorological Department forecasts above-normal temperatures and more heatwave days this April-June, following 2024’s record heat. Early heatwaves hit February 27-28, with the first official one on April 5. Climate change is intensifying these events, and a 2022 study predicts a tenfold heatwave risk increase this century, potentially impacting over 70% of India’s land. Research from the Oxford India Centre flags India as the top nation for cooling demand in a warmer world.