The increase in the average temperature will force us all to use the air conditioning more, which apart from having an impact on the electricity bill, also could make global warming worse unless steps are taken to prevent it.
And it is that the increase in demand will force the electricity grids, which are already at the limit. In a place where summers are increasingly hot, as is the case in Spain, consumption could increase up to 6% by the end of the century.
Currently, the equivalent of four 1000 megawatt nuclear power plants is needed to serve 300 peak hours per year, according to calculations Spanish Electricity Network. During that time, it is necessary to activate the most expensive production plants, which are also the ones that emit the most carbon dioxide (CO2).
According to a study published in the PNAS magazine, the demand associated with heating will be reduced; on the other hand, that associated with refrigeration will increase. In this regard, the former Secretary of State for climate change and director of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, Teresa Ribera, said that "this will force a change in the generation and consumption model, ensuring 100% renewable electricity in 2050, with a system that maximizes savings and efficiency and favoring that other final energy consumptions are satisfied with this renewable electricity, revolutionizing mobility ».
How much could temperatures increase in Spain? Much more than it should. The most pessimistic scenario of the United Nations predicts a rise in up to six degrees in summer in the Mediterranean region, Y de up to 3,8ºC in winter. The country could have a similar climate to that of Morocco today, as we mentioned in this article.
Obviously, to cope with the heat, what we will do is do everything possible to keep cool. But unless the Paris Agreement is honored, we may have to face a totally unknown situation.