Global warming has a subtle consequence increasingly felt in homes and the energy system: the hotter the planet gets, the more electricity we need for cooling. Maintaining habitable temperatures in buildings is increasing reliance on electric refrigeration and driving energy demand to unprecedented levels.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), each additional degree during a heatwave can raise peak electricity demand by 2% to 4%. What was once a localized issue in hot countries is becoming a structural challenge for electrical systems worldwide. Paradoxically, as electrification is promoted to cut emissions, global warming itself is accelerating electricity consumption, requiring not only cleaner energy but significantly more of it.
Heatwaves are driving record electricity demand in numerous countries. The growth of air conditioning is a major factor in global energy consumption, necessitating expanded generation capacity, reinforced grids, and new storage solutions.
In Spain, households see an average 11.3% increase in electricity consumption during summer months. In hotter regions, this rise is more pronounced: reaching 45.3% in Murcia, 36.5% in the Valencian Community, and over 30% in Andalusia and the Balearic Islands. While winter still accounts for higher aggregate energy consumption, cooling is gaining significant weight in household bills.
An average home can see its monthly electricity bill jump from around 72 euros to over 131 euros with intensive air conditioning use. During a heatwave, consumption rises, often coinciding with higher electricity prices, doubling the impact on the bill.
The need to produce more electricity precisely when millions of homes simultaneously activate their cooling systems presents a challenge. Spain benefits from solar photovoltaic energy, but the main challenge arises in the evening when solar generation decreases, yet cooling demand remains high, requiring other energy sources or storage.
The IEA emphasizes that energy efficiency is as crucial as building new infrastructure. More efficient equipment, better building insulation, and smarter demand management can alleviate pressure on the system. Extreme heat is now an economic and energy phenomenon, driving higher electricity consumption, increasing investment needs in grids and storage, and making cooling an increasingly essential element for millions.
