Hyderabad: As negotiators at the ongoing COP30 work tirelessly to agree on the need for finance for adaptation and mitigation, a new report from Climate Trends and Climate Compatible Futures highlights the seriousness of both, especially for developing countries like India, which are trapped in a vicious cycle. Heatwaves are projected to increase electricity demand in India by 9% in the summer of 2024.
India’s electricity demand is at a critical juncture, where rising demand due to increasing heat stress is necessitating timely investments in the right infrastructure for renewable energy, which could hold the key to solving the dual problems of heat and emission-intensive electricity supply.
Some highlights: Electricity demand in India increased by 9% during the peak heatwave months of April-June 2024 compared to April-June 2023. This is in line with other reports of increases of over 10% in the same timeframe.
Over the past 10 years, India’s annual maximum temperature has consistently increased by 0.1°C to 0.5°C across most states, with 2024 being the hottest year on record. It averaged +0.65°C above the 1991-2020 baseline, surpassing the 2016 record.
Temperatures in the Indo-Gangetic region have consistently increased. Peak summer temperatures frequently exceeded 45°C, with Mungeshpur (Delhi) recording 52.3°C in 2024, leading to more intense and prolonged heatwaves.
Regional Heat Concentration: North Indian states, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana, were identified as the most affected areas, experiencing the largest summer temperature increases.
Specific Temperature Increases in Himalayan Regions and States: Traditionally cold regions, such as Uttarakhand (11.2%) and Ladakh (9.1%), experienced the largest percentage increase in annual summer temperatures, suggesting increased vulnerability in high-altitude areas.
Increased and Intensified Heatwaves: The number of days with temperatures exceeding 40°C increased sharply in the second half of the decade. This suggests that 14 states experienced a 15% increase in summer heat intensity between 2015 and 2024. This suggests that extreme heat events are becoming more widespread and more severe across India.
Temperature-Demand Correlation: Uttar Pradesh showed the strongest correlation between temperature and electricity consumption, with peak demand increasing from ~14.2 GW (2015) to ~25.5 GW (2024). A similar correlation was observed in Rajasthan and Delhi, where intense pre-monsoon heat consistently increased summer demand.
Limited Integration of Renewable Energy in Heat Action Plans: Currently, only four states, three cities, and one district are integrating renewable energy measures, such as solar-powered systems or battery backup, into their Heat Action Plans (HAPs). This highlights significant policy gaps in linking climate adaptation with energy resilience.
