A couple of weeks ago, we heard about the unprecedented winter storm that occurred in Texas which caused blackouts for a week and generated lots of problems for the state’s power grid (learn more). When the storm was at its peak, the cold had snuffed out 46GW of power generation capacity in the state which left more than 4.5 million customers in Texas out of power and this made living miserable for them.
The cause of the winter storm was the rising change in the climate. Usually, in temperate regions, changes in climatic conditions can result in unprecedented winter storms; whereas, in tropical regions, heatwaves occur.
Could the heatwave affect our electricity?
Have you taken note of the blazing, eye-piercing sunshine we have been experiencing for more than a week now? It’s a heatwave and our own share of the effects of climate change. Given how the electricity sector was greatly affected in Texas, could a similar occurrence take place in Nigeria?
The answer is YES! Hot weather has a negative impact on electricity. When materials get hot, they expand- this includes the materials electric grids are made from. Overhead power transmission cables are often costumed with aluminum, which is especially prone to expansion in heat. When it expands, overhead lines can loosen and droop hence increasing electrical resistance and a drop in its efficiency.
Furthermore, generating plants use water to generate steam and cool down machinery which both depend on the temperature of the water. However, when this water is utilized it is expected to cool off before returning back to the lake. With increased temperature, the weather makes it difficult for the water to cool in time for efficient power production.
As minute as the problems associated with heatwave may sound, it is important to remember that the heatwave that occurred in France in 2003 affected the country’s nuclear power plant and the country faced a large-scale blackout.
Finally, there is the need to be enlightened ahead of time of the possibility of extreme sunshine affecting electricity generation and supply should in case problems of this magnitude arise in the country.