Climate Extremes Strain Power Grids

Extreme heat and severe storms are placing simultaneous pressure on power systems by increasing electricity demand, reducing generation efficiency, and damaging grid equipment.

Heat can limit thermal and nuclear generation when cooling water becomes too warm or scarce, while storms can cause widespread outages through transmission and distribution failures. The pattern highlights the need for upgrades to grid hardware, cooling systems, storage, flexibility, and climate-risk planning, although the scale of impacts varies by technology and location.