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United States peak power pollution season gets underway: Maguire

The month of July kicks off the yearly peak period for power emissions in the United States, as higher nationwide temperatures ratchet up usage of energyintensive air conditioning unit and spur power firms to crank up output from fossil fuels.

The July-to-September quarter has actually marked the quarterly high point for nonrenewable fuel source power output over the previous three years, with fossil-fired generation increasing by approximately 37% from the previous quarter considering that 2021, data from LSEG programs.

Resulting emissions throughout the third quarter of the calendar year have actually leapt by a similar degree, according to energy think tank Cinder, and have once again have actually traditionally scaled their yearly peak throughout the July-September duration.

U.S. power emissions through the very first half of 2024 have currently climbed by 5.2% from the very same period last year, to 790 million metric tons of co2 (CO2) and equivalent gases, according to Coal.

If power companies follow their typical practice and count on nonrenewable fuel sources to plug most of any power supply shortfalls throughout this year's peak need period, 2024's emissions toll will most likely climb even further above last year's total.

GASSING UP

Power companies traditionally depend on gas to supply the bulk of any incremental rise in power use during the 3rd quarter, with gas-fired output rising by an average of 36% because 2021 throughout that time window from the second quarter.

However, coal-fired power generation also tends to climb greatly during the July to September period, and in 2023 increased by more than 50% from the 2nd quarter as power companies had a hard time to meet the higher power consumption throughout that period.

A key driver behind the heavy dependence on nonrenewable fuel sources throughout the height of summertime is the tendency for clean power supplies to hold flat and even agreement a little during that duration.

Clean power generation tends to plunge during the summer due to lower wind speeds at turbine level and minimized hydro dam generation during the driest months of the year.

In 2023, clean power generation expanded by simply 0.4% during the 3rd quarter from the second quarter, LSEG information shows.

In 2022 and 2021, clean generation declined by 4.3% and 1.7%. respectively during that quarter from the previous quarter.

TOUGH CHOICES

The combined track record of tidy power generation right when. total power demand reliably peaks leaves U.S. power firms with. little scope but to improve output from nonrenewable fuel sources in spite of. continuous commitments to decarbonize power production.

Power sector emissions tend to go through substantial jumps. whenever power companies raise the share of fossil fuels in the. total generation mix.

In between 2019 and 2023, typical power sector emissions during. the 3rd quarter have been 532 million heaps, according to. Cinder.

That compares to 401 million tons for each of the other. quarters of the year, and highlights the scale of the. ecological impact from higher nonrenewable fuel source usage.

However, the July to September window is also when the U.S. power system tends to come under pressure from heat waves and. heavy storms that traditionally cluster during the most popular time. of year.

To ensure day-and-night power availability and fulfill greater. baseload requirements from higher commercial and residential. air conditioning system use during summer season, many power systems are. bound to improve general output by whatever indicates required.

Fossil fuels have actually formed the backbone of that additional. power generation over the last few years, and have actually resulted in a jump in. associated emissions which might worsen the climate-warming patterns. that have actually lifted a/c unit need in the very first place.

However if power firms continue to construct out tidy generation. and battery storage capacity at the record pace seen over the. past decade or two, tidy source of power may be able to replace. some fossil fuels in power generation mixes in the years ahead.

<< The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a. writer .>

(source: Reuters)