But its main grid can increasingly draw on a crucial power source that was negligible just a few years ago.Д¬aliforniaВ has a very different power mix than France or Texas. ThatвЂ™s true of California as well (Death Valley hit 122вЏ in June). The grid is under strain and will remain that wayВ thisВ summer. Renewables areВ some help -В in particular solar, which generates almost 40 times more power in 2022 than it did in 2016 -В but wind output is typically low during extreme heat events. Maintenance is being deferred to ensure sufficient capacity, but that only stresses the system further. Meanwhile, in Texas, the operator of the stateвЂ™s main electricity grid reported record power demand on Tuesday, thanks to temperatures well into the 100s. As a result, day-ahead baseload power prices settled at 610 euros per megawatt-hour - about 10В times higher than prices from 2017 to 2021. EuropeвЂ™sВ heat wave has reduced FranceвЂ™s available nuclear power, as the river water used to coolВ nuclear plants becameВ too hot to be effective. On Tuesday, the UK Met Office recordedВ the countryвЂ™s first-ever temperature above 40В degrees CelsiusВ (104 degreesВ Fahrenheit) at LondonвЂ™s Heathrow Airport just before 1 p.m., asВ temperatures were still rising.В High demand sent power prices in the UK up 5% in one day.ДЄcross the Channel, things haveВ beenВ even more volatile. As I write this newsletter, heat records are being brokenВ all over the globe.

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