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Spanish power utilities accuse grid operator of April blackout
Aelec, the Spanish lobby for power utilities, blamed Monday the poor planning of grid operator REE for the massive blackout which hit Spain and Portugal in April 28. This was in contrast to REE’s earlier claim that power plants had been responsible. Marina Serrano, Aelec chair, told reporters that during the blackout, the power plants of the country had followed the orders given by REE, an unit of Redeia. Anton Garcia Diaz, Aelec expert, said that the report shows a lack of planning for conventional power generation. Beatriz Corredor, chairwoman of Redeia, blamed conventional power stations - thermal power plant using coal and gas - on Wednesday for not maintaining a proper voltage. She refuted an earlier report by the Energy Ministry which found that REE had failed to calculate the right mix of energy, and that this was one of the reasons for the grid's inability to deal with the outage. Reporting by Pietro Lombardi, Writing by Emma Pinedo, Inti Landauro and David Latona; Editing by David Latona
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Middle East flights suspended by airlines
Israel's attacks against Iran has prompted international carriers to stop flights to certain Middle East destinations because of airspace closures and safety issues. The conflict has entered a new phase after the U.S. invasion on Iranian nuclear sites Some airlines have cancelled flights to hubs such as Dubai is Qatar's Doha. Here are some airlines that have canceled flights from and to the region. AIRBALTIC AirBaltic, a Latvian airline, announced that it had cancelled all flights from and to Tel Aviv up until September 30. AEROFLOT Aeroflot, a Russian airline, has announced that it has cancelled flights between Moscow & Tehran and changed other routes throughout the Middle East. AIR EUROPA Spanish airline cancels flights from and to Tel Aviv through July 31. AIR FRANCE-KLM Air France has suspended flights to and out of Tel Aviv, until further notice. Air France KLM has cancelled flights from and to Dubai and Riyadh for the 22nd and 23rd of June. KLM has cancelled all flights from and to Tel Aviv, at least until July 1, and warned that flights from or to Beirut may also be affected until June 29. DELTA AIR LINES Travel to, from or through Tel Aviv could be affected between June 12 and July 31. EL AL ISRAEL AIRLINES The airline announced that its normal flight schedules for EL AL, Sundor and other destinations had been cancelled through June 23, 2018. Flights scheduled to depart until July 15 are also closed to new bookings. ETIHAD AERWAYS The airline said it would cancel flights between Abu Dhabi, Amman and Tel Aviv between June 20 and June 30. EMIRATES Emirates has temporarily suspended its flights from and to Jordan (Amman), Lebanon (Beirut), Iran (Teheran), and Iraq (Baghdad, Basra and Basra), until June 30, and Iran (Teheran), and Iraq (Baghdad, Basra and Basra). FLYDUBAI Flydubai has temporarily suspended its flights to and out of Iran, Iraq and Israel until June 30, 2018. British Airways, owned by IAG, has announced that flights to Tel Aviv will be suspended until July 31, and flights to Amman or Bahrain are suspended through June 30. After cancelling flights to and from Dubai and Doha the previous day, British Airways was scheduled to resume Dubai and Doha routes on June 23, Iberia Express - IAG's low cost airline - had announced previously that it would cancel its flights to Tel Aviv up until June 30. ISRAIR Israeli Airlines announced that all flights to and from Israel have been cancelled until June 30, 2018. ITA AIRWAYS Italian Airlines announced that it will extend the suspension of Tel Aviv flight until July 31. This includes two flights scheduled for August 1. LUFTHANSA GROUP Lufthansa has suspended flights from and to Tel Aviv, Tehran and Beirut until July 31. Amman and Erbil flights are cancelled through July 11. German Airlines added that they would not use the airspace of these countries until further notice. PEGASUS Turkish Airlines has cancelled all flights to Iran and Iraq until June 30, and to Lebanon, Jordan and Lebanon until June 23, according to the airline. QATAR AIRWAYS Qatar Airways has temporarily canceled flights to and from Iraq Iran and Syria. RYANAIR Ryanair has announced that it will cancel flights from and to Tel Aviv up until September 30. SINGAPORE Airlines A security assessment led the Asian carrier to cancel flights from Singapore to Dubai on June 22, 2018. The flight was scheduled to resume on the 23rd of June. Romania's flag airline has suspended all commercial flights from and to Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Amman till June 24. TUS AIRWAYS The Cypriot Airlines cancelled all flights scheduled to depart and arrive in Israel until June 24, inclusive. The airline said that flights scheduled to depart between June 25 and 30 will be closed for sales pending any further developments. UNITED AIRLINES According to the U.S. airline, travel from and to Tel Aviv could be affected between 13 June and 1 August. There may be problems with flights to Dubai between the dates of June 18 and 25, as well. WIZZ AIR Wizz Air has announced that it will suspend its flights to and from Tel Aviv, Amman and Jordan until September 15, 2015. Hungarian Airlines will not overfly Israeli, Iraqi or Iranian airspaces until further notice. (Reporting and compilation by bureaus, compiled by Agnieszka Olesnka, Elviira Loma, and Tiago Brancao; Editing by Matt Scuffham, Alison Williams and Matt Scuffham)
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New York Times Business News - June 23,
These are the most popular stories from the New York Times' business pages. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports. Tesla released a small fleet of self-driving cabs to pick up paying passengers in Austin, Texas on Sunday. Elon Musk announced the "robotaxi" launch and social media influencers posted videos of their initial rides. Frederick Smith, the founder of FedEx Corp. and former CEO, died at the age 80. Smith founded the global delivery conglomerate in the 1970s with over a dozen aircraft. The U.S. Judge on Sunday ordered Kilmar Garcia, who was wrongfully deported back to El Salvador in early June, to be released on bail until his criminal trial for smuggling migrants. On Sunday, a Senate official rejected a provision in the Republican's domestic policy bill which could limit lawsuits that seek to block U.S. president Trump's executive action. (Compiled by Bengaluru Newsroom)
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How middlemen illegally funnel Chinese vapes to the United States
One small company, located just 15 minutes from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (O'Hare), helped import millions in vapes made by Chinese manufacturers last year, and was a vital link in the supply chains that feed U.S. demand. In just over four years, a customs broker named Jay Kim became the go-to agent for the Chinese vape market. According to an analysis, the firm handled 60% of the vapes and parts shipped from China to the U.S. by 2024. Kim, in an April interview at his office, said that "a lot of them" had FDA approval. He was referring to the vapes shipments his company handled. FDA data on the importation of FDA-regulated products such as tobacco or medicines into the U.S. showed that the products Kim's company helped bring into America included unauthorized brands like Lost Mary, Geek Bar. The FDA declared these brands illegal to import and sell, warning that their fruity and candy flavors could appeal to children. The FDA says nicotine is addictive and can affect young people's mood, attention, learning, and ability to learn. A Lost Mary spokesperson stated that the company had no contact or connection with Kim's firm and flavors are a major factor in helping adults quit smoking. Geek Bar's maker did not reply to a comment request. Shenzhen, a Chinese city, is the largest source of legal and illicit vapes entering the United States. According to Chinese customs figures, China exported over 26 billion yuan (3.6 billion dollars) worth of vapes into the U.S. in 2024. U.S. Customs figures, however, show that only $333 millions in Chinese vapes was officially received by the U.S. in 2024. Two customs data experts said that while mismatches between custom data in the U.S., and those of its trading partners, are common, a gap of 90% was not. According to the FDA which is leading efforts to control vapes, unauthorized vapes are often disguised as shoes or toys when they arrive in the U.S. The study used data from the FDA and U.S. Customs, as well as interviews with tobacco and vape industry insiders. It also collected information from U.S. law enforcement and regulators to create a picture about how unlicensed vapes end up on U.S. store shelves. The report found that a group of US-based middlemen, including customs brokers and distributors, played a key role in the vape chain and took steps to avoid detection. Trump Administration officials promised a crackdown. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said that the agency would stop illegal imports. An FDA spokesperson stated that "our borders were far too porous" when it came to illegal ecigarette products from other countries. The agency plans to use artificial intelligence in order to "stem flow of products appealing to children across the country." In May, Customs and Border Protection and the FDA announced that $34 million worth of illegal vapes were seized in Chicago. The seizure in February was a result of a large number of shipments that contained incorrect product values and vague descriptions. In the course of this operation, the agency for the first sent letters to all 24 middlemen in the supply chain for vapes, including U.S. customs brokers and importers. According to the FDA, the letters informed the middlemen that it is a crime to give false information to the government and asked them how they ensured compliance with tobacco laws. It was not possible to determine if Kim was one of the customs brokers that received a FDA letter. He refused to answer any questions regarding the findings. VAPE MIDDLEMEN Customs brokers don't buy or sell their own goods. They are instead paid by someone else, usually an importer, who pays them to assist with the customs process. Feldman said that customs brokers could be in violation of the law if it is found they have not done proper due diligence. Kim, in a brief conversation with a reporter at his office on April 9, said that his company no longer deals with vape shipments after leaving the business last year. He claimed that an ex-employee of his company had brought him in contact with vape customers and then took them with her when she moved on. The FDA data examined by revealed that Kim continued to handle vape-related shipments throughout 2025 including in June. The FDA, who was told to fire 3,500 workers in March, collaborates with CBP to stop unauthorized vape shipments. CBP spokesperson said the agency had seized more than 3 million illegal vapes worth $76 million by 2024. The spokesperson stated that CBP had encountered bad actors who were exploiting shipments in order to transit illicit goods. This included illegal vapes and synthetic opioids as well as precursor chemicals, paraphernalia, and other related items. Over the last two years, the FDA reported that efforts by FDA and CBP led to the seizure around 7.1 millions e-cigarettes valued at over $136,000,000. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, said that the administration will "eradicate" fruity and sugary flavored vapes imported from China which appeal to children. In May, he said to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions that "we are going get rid of them all". Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi says that middlemen such as Kim are partly responsible for the vape flood, but places the majority of blame on the FDA. He accuses the FDA of being inactive while illegal vapes flood the country. "The FDA is a catastrophe." He said, "It's asleep on the switch." You have illegal vapes everywhere. This month, it was reported that the Trump Administration's tariffs against China and vape seizures have already impacted supply. FDA data shows that vape shipments fell in May. Popular brand Geek Bar was particularly affected. The FDA has approved 34 different vape products from companies such as British American Tobacco, Altria and others. However, the FDA has not authorized any fruity or sweet-flavored vapes which it says may appeal to children. BAT executives estimate that unauthorized vape devices accounted for 70% of sales in the U.S. Most of the supply chain that smuggles illegal Chinese vapes to the U.S. operates in plain view. The process begins with a Chinese exporter network. Once a vape shipment has cleared customs in the U.S. it is sent to its U.S. buyer, usually a distributor. The distributor then sells to smaller wholesalers or retailers across the country. The FDA collects information on the recipients of vape shipments in the United States. Reynolds American, a U.S.-based subsidiary of BAT, was the largest company in 2024. The top ten vape recipients in the United States also included six obscure companies, which were opened between 2023 and 2024. They sometimes operated out of homes. Analysis of FDA data as well as state business filings shows that the second largest recipient of vape shipments was a Chicago based company named Somo Trade LLC. It was established in 2023. A woman who lives at the address of the business, which is a home in Chicago's North Side, told a reporter the building was not used for the vape business. Rongda Trade is another recipient of vapes. It was registered in the same house as Somo Trade. Both were opened the same month and have already closed, according to its filings. When I visited the address, no one answered the front door. A residential address in Chicago's Southwest Side, linked to Lila Trade, was also unanswered. Xiaohong Dai's name was not listed on the four mailboxes outside. There were no websites or contact details for any of these firms. In February, New York Attorney-General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against 13 companies that she claimed were major U.S. distributors of vapes. She accused them of working with Chinese manufacturers in order to fuel an unauthorized vape market. The complaint claims that "Defendants, together, have created an industry of flavored ecigarettes, especially disposable vapes and staked their own lucrative share in this booming market," All have engaged in reprehensible and illegal conduct, with the aim of enticing youths to use their products. Mitch Zeller - former director of the FDA Center for Tobacco Products under the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations - blamed U.S. distributors for feeding the demand, including those named in James’ lawsuit. He said that only a few middlemen and middle companies are responsible for bringing the mislabeled, misclassified, and illegal imported goods into interstate commerce.
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After the US strike on Iran, airlines are re-evaluating Middle East cancellations
Commercial airlines in the world weighed how long they would suspend Middle East flights on Monday as the conflict, which had already cut off many major flight routes, entered a new stage after the U.S. launched an attack against key Iranian nuclear sites. Tehran also vowed that it would defend itself. Since Israel's strikes against Iran began on June 13, the airspace that stretches from Iran, Iraq and the Mediterranean Sea has been virtually empty. Airlines have diverted, cancelled and delayed flights due to safety concerns and airspace closures. The aviation industry's concern about the region has escalated with the recent cancellations by some international airlines of flights to aviation hubs such as Dubai, the busiest airport in the world, and Doha, Qatar. Some international airlines resumed their services on Monday. Singapore Airlines, a leading Asian airline that described the situation in Singapore as "fluid", is set to resume its flight to Dubai from Singapore on Monday. Flightradar24's departure boards also show that British Airways, which is owned by IAG and operates out of Dubai and Doha, will resume flights to and from these airports on Monday, after canceling routes on Sunday. Air France KLM has cancelled flights from and to Dubai and Riyadh for Sunday and Monday. The Middle East has become an important route between Europe and Asia, as Russian and Ukrainian airspace is also closed for most airlines because of years of conflict. In the last 10 days, there have been missile and air attacks that forced airlines to fly north via the Caspian Sea and south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia. In addition to the increased costs of fuel and crew due to these detours and cancelations, airlines may also see a rise in jet fuel prices as oil prices increase following the U.S. terrorist attacks. AIRSPACE RISKS As aerial attacks increase, airlines are increasingly concerned about the possibility of accidental or deliberate shooting downs of commercial aircraft. Commercial aviation is also facing a growing problem of GPS interference and location spoofing around hotspots. Ground-based GPS systems can broadcast incorrect positions, which can cause commercial aircraft to go off course. Flightradar24 reported that it had observed a "dramatic rise" in the number of jammings and spoofings in recent days in the Persian Gulf. SkAI, the Swiss company that operates a GPS disruption chart, said late Sunday it had observed over 150 aircraft spoofed there in just 24 hours. Safe Airspace is a website operated by OPSGROUP. It's a membership organisation that provides flight risk information. On Sunday, the site noted that U.S. strikes on Iran nuclear sites may increase the danger to American operators operating in the area. It said that this could increase airspace risk in Gulf states such as Bahrain, Kuwait Oman, Qatar Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. American Airlines, United Airlines, and Air Canada suspended flights to Dubai and Qatar in the days preceding the U.S. strike. The flights have not yet resumed. Local carriers in Jordania, Lebanon, and Iraq have tentatively resumed some flights following widespread cancellations. Israel has increased flights to assist people in returning home and leaving. The Airports Authority of Israel announced that the number of rescue flights into the country will increase to 24 per day on Monday, with a maximum 50 passengers on each flight. The authority announced that Israeli airlines will begin operating outbound flights to Israel from Monday. El Al, the Israeli airline, said on Sunday that it received about 25,000 applications from people wanting to leave Israel in a single day. (Reporting from Jack Queen in New York, Lisa Barrington in Seoul and Kate Mayberry and Sonali Paul in the editing)
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A parliamentarian has said that Senate Republicans can't force US Postal Service into scrapping EVs
Senate Republicans can't force the U.S. The Senate Parliamentarian stated late Sunday that the U.S. Postal Service will be forced to eliminate thousands of electric vehicles, charging equipment and other items in a massive budget and tax bill. The U.S. Postal Service currently has 7,200 electric vehicles, consisting of Ford e-Transit vehicles and specially built Next Generation Delivery Vehicles by Oshkosh Defense. The U.S. Postal Service has 7,200 electric vehicles consisting of Ford e-Transit and Next Generation Delivery Vehicles specially designed by Oshkosh Defence. USPS warned that abandoning its electric vehicles could cost $1.5 billion. This includes $1 billion for replacing the current fleet and $500 million to replace the EV infrastructure. "Replace an old and outdated delivery fleet." Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, whose role is to ensure lawmakers follow proper legislative procedure, said a provision to force the sale could not be approved via a simple majority vote in the Republican-controlled chamber and will instead need a 60-vote supermajority, according to Democrats on the Senate Budget Committee. Last week, she ruled that Republicans could not use the bill. Overturning landmark rules to dramatically reduce Vehicle emissions and EV sales will increase. Senate Republicans also tried to recover more than 1 billion dollars from the Department of Defense. Congress gives USPS $3 billion in 2023 As part of a $430-billion climate bill, $1.2 billion will be spent on EVs and infrastructure for charging. USPS informed Congress that "removing all electric cars and charging infrastructure in a sweeping manner would hinder our ability deliver to American citizens, would directly hurt our ability serve your constituents and would waste vital funds for no reasonable reason." USPS spent more than $540 million upgrading electrical infrastructure, which is "literally buried beneath parking lots" and that there is no market to buy used charging equipment. USPS will also be charged significant costs by Oshkosh if it stops EV purchases as per its contract. USPS stated in December that the purchase of EVs in 2025 will be "50-50". USPS plans on buying 66,000 electric vehicles between 2028. Senate Republicans argued that scrapping EVs "would focus USPS on delivering the mail and not achieve the environmental goals pushed by Biden administration." Postmaster General Louis DeJoy was forced to resign by the White House in March. Who led the efforts to restructure a money-losing company? U.S. Postal Service nearly five years. USPS has lost over $100 billion since 2007. David Steiner is a FedEx Board member and former CEO at Waste Management. Has been appointed as the incoming Postmaster General President Donald Trump In February, he said he was considering Democrats have said that merging the Postal Service and Commerce Department would be a violation of federal law. (Reporting and editing by Tom Hogue, Kate Mayberry, and David Shepardson)
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After US strikes on Iran, airlines are re-evaluating Middle East cancellations
Commercial airlines in the United States and around the world were debating Monday how long they would suspend flights to the Middle East after the U.S. attacked Iran. Singapore Airlines, a major airline in Asia, called the situation "fluid", cancelling flights to Dubai after a security evaluation. Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 shows that there is no space in Iran, Iraq or Syria, and the Middle East route is now more important than ever for flights between Europe, Asia and Russia. Air France KLM announced on Sunday that they had cancelled all flights from and to Dubai and Riyadh for Sunday and Monday. British Airways, which is owned by IAG ICAG.L., has also cancelled flights from and to Dubai and Doha on Sunday. In a Sunday evening statement, British Airways said it was still reviewing the situation when asked about flights later in the day. Safe Airspace is a website operated by OPSGROUP that monitors flight risk. On Sunday, it warned that U.S. strikes on Iran's nuke sites could increase the danger to American operators. American Airlines and United Airlines both suspended flights to Qatar in the days leading up to the U.S. strike. The airlines are also worried about the potential increase in jet fuel prices due to a possible spike in oil price following the U.S. attack. Israel is increasing its flights to assist stranded travelers at home and abroad. Airports Authority of Israel says the number of rescue flights into the country will increase to 24 per day on Monday, but each flight is limited to only 50 passengers. On Sunday, Israeli airline El Al said that it received requests to leave the country in a matter of a few hours from about 25,000 individuals.
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Elon Musk announces Tesla robotaxis launch in Austin
Tesla released a small fleet of self-driving cabs to pick up paying passengers in Austin, Texas on Sunday. Elon Musk announced the "robotaxi release" and social media influencers posted videos of their initial rides. Musk described the moment as the "culmination" of a "decade of hard work," in a Facebook post. He also noted that the "AI chip and software teams at Tesla were built from the ground up." One Tesla was spotted in South Congress, a neighborhood in Austin early on Sunday with only one passenger in the car. Automaker planned small test with 10 vehicles, and riders in the front seats acting as "safety observers." However, it was unclear what level of control they would have over the vehicles. The automaker invited a small group of influencers to participate in a robotaxi test that was carefully monitored. Musk announced on X that the rides would be offered at a $4.20 flat rate. Tesla investor Sawyer Merritt, a social media personality, posted videos Sunday afternoon on X showing him using a Tesla Robotaxi app to order, get picked up, and take a ride from a nearby restaurant and bar, Frazier's, Long and Low. Industry experts say that even if Tesla is successful with this small deployment, it will still face major challenges to deliver on Musk's promise to scale up rapidly in Austin and other large cities. According to Philip Koopman, an expert in autonomous vehicle technology at Carnegie Mellon University, it could take Tesla or self-driving competitors, like Alphabet's Waymo years or even decades to develop a robotaxi. He said that a successful Austin trial would not be the end for Tesla but the end of the beginning. According to industry analysts, the majority of Tesla's stock value is now based on its ability deliver robotaxis or humanoid robotics. Tesla is the most valuable automaker in the world. Texas lawmakers rushed to pass autonomous vehicle rules as Tesla's robotaxi launch date approached. Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation on Friday requiring self-driving vehicle operators to have a state license. The law that takes effect on September 1 signals the desire of state officials in both parties to see the driverless vehicle industry proceed with caution. Tesla has not responded to any requests for comments. The Governor's Office declined to comment. The new law is a softening of the previous anti-regulation position taken by the state on autonomous vehicles. A Texas law passed in 2017 prohibited cities from regulating autonomous vehicles. According to the new law, autonomous vehicle operators must get permission from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) before they can operate on public roads without a driver. State authorities have the right to revoke licenses for drivers they consider a danger to public safety. In emergency situations, the law requires that firms provide information to first responders on how they can use their driverless vehicle. The permit requirements of the law for "automated vehicles" are not burdensome, but they do require that firms attest to their vehicles' ability to operate legally and in safety. The law defines an automated car as one that has at least a "Level 4" autonomy standard. This means it can drive without a human driver in specified conditions. Level 5 autonomy means that a vehicle can drive itself in any condition. California, for example, requires that vehicle testing data be submitted to the state. Bryant Walker Smith is a University of South Carolina Law Professor who focuses on the autonomous driving industry. He said that it appears any company meeting minimum requirements can get a Texas permit, but it could be revoked if there are problems. He said that California permits were difficult to obtain and easy to lose. In Texas, it is easy to obtain and lose a permit. MUSK'S SECURITY PLEDGES Musk has been promising self-driving Teslas for more than 10 years, but has yet to deliver. Musk said Tesla would be "super-paranoid" regarding robotaxi safety in Austin. This includes operating in restricted areas. Austin's service will also have restrictions. Tesla will avoid difficult intersections and bad weather. It also won't transport anyone under the age of 18. Commercializing autonomous cars has been expensive and risky. GM Cruise was shut down following a serious incident. Tesla, Waymo, and Amazon's Zoox are being closely watched by regulators. Tesla also breaks with the industry standard of using multiple technologies for reading the road and instead relies on cameras. Musk claims that this will be safer and cheaper than the lidar and radar added by competitors. (Reporting from Norihiko Shrouzu in Austin, and Abhirup Ro in San Francisco. Writing by Brian Thevenot. Editing by Peter Henderson Chris Reese Lisa Shumaker.
Forget AI. Maguire: The bigger problem in the power sector is keeping cool.
In the developed world, utilities are struggling to meet demand from data centres. Globally, however, the challenge of keeping people cool will be a greater drain on power grids.
Data centres and air conditioners will both triple their electricity consumption over the next decade. This will put utilities under severe strain, already struggling with aging grids, and long backlogs of new supply.
According to the International Energy Agency, data centre electricity consumption is expected to increase by 800 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2035 from 416 TWh around 2024.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, this is enough electricity to power 75 million American households for an entire year. The global demand for cooling systems is expected to increase by 1,200 TWh in 2035. That's nearly as much energy as the Middle East consumes each year, according to data from thinkthank Ember.
The location of the demand spike and the consequences of not meeting this spike also differ significantly between the drivers.
The majority of data centres are expected to expand in developed economies that have modern power networks. Demand will increase primarily due to the processing of search requests from businesses and social media apps.
The vast majority of air conditioning demand is expected to grow in emerging economies, where heat-related illnesses and deaths are already a threat for many communities.
The likelihood of increased deaths and human suffering in developing countries, which could be the result of power system shortages, is of a completely different magnitude from the economic impact and risk of slowed search results that may come as a result of failing to increase power supply for data hubs.
BUILDING EFFECT
Climate change will lead to heatwaves that are more intense, longer and more frequent in many parts of the world. This is especially true in developing countries like South and Southeast Asia, where high humidity can increase the effects of heat stress.
According to a report by India's Centre for Science and the Environment, "even a heatwave lasting only a few day can cause tens and thousands of deaths excess in India."
In order to combat this, many new homes and office buildings in countries with warm climates are increasing the number of cooling systems they contain.
Many of these areas have already experienced a construction boom, which has increased the need to cool space.
According to the IEA, in 2022, approximately 36% of households will have some type of air conditioning.
By 2035 this share is expected jump from 50% to 60%.
IEA data show that to power this expanding footprint, installed cooling capacity is expected to increase from 850 gigawatts in 2022, to 1,750 GW in 2035, to 2,700 GW in 2050.
INDIA-LED
In the next decade, India will be the largest consumer of cooling systems. It has the largest population in the world and will have the largest economy.
According to the IEA, India currently has around 110 million air conditioners out of the 2.4 billion units used globally.
By 2035, India will have a 13% share in the global air conditioner market (approximately 500 million units), which is expected to increase to over 1.1 billion units by 2020.
Indonesia, a fast-growing nation with a large population prone to humid and hot weather, will triple its air conditioners by 2035. Brazil, Mexico, and the Middle East all plan to double their numbers.
WIDENING LOADS
All regions will have to work hard in order to increase electricity supply in order for data centres and cooling system demand growth to be met.
The challenges of addressing these demand drivers are different depending on where power is required.
Most data centres in the United States and Europe are built near existing generation sites so that server farms have access to uninterrupted power without transmission delays.
Many of the cooling systems in developing economies are located within multi-story buildings or on previously undivided land. This means that power providers have to expand their geographical reach and increase volumes.
In India, Indonesia, and other countries, the need to increase the scale and scope of electricity production may lead to an expansion of the use of coal, which could cause pollution and accelerate the warming trend.
The sheer size of the energy demand will mean that fossil fuels will be insufficient to meet this growth. A variety of other power sources will be required.
The "all-of-the above" approach means that clean energy and renewable resources should become a larger part of the mix of electricity generation over time. This could lead to the eventual elimination of high pollution fuels.
In the short term, fossil fuels will be burned more to meet the increasing demand for electricity.
Heat stress will only increase in the future as people are forced to stay safe and comfortable at higher temperatures. This puts more strain on already stressed electrical grids.
These are the opinions of a columnist who writes for.
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(source: Reuters)