Italy's Grid Manager - No Risk Of Electricity Cuts From Hot Weather  

Here's another example of the risk to power generation from global warming - this time from Italy. I'm sure Richard Duncan didn't imagine this but it seems to be an increasingly common occurrence :

* hotter weather -> higher power consumption
* hotter weather -> less rain
* less rain -> less hydro power
* less rain -> limits on cooling for other types of generation

Italy's grid manager, the GRTN, sees no risk at present of cuts in the electricity supply because of hot weather, which boosts electricity consumption, said a GRTN spokesman. A report in La Repubblica said recent hot weather could put under pressure water resources in the north of the country, which are used for hydroelectric power and for cooling conventional plants.

'There is no risk of power cuts because production is under control. There is not a problem,' said the spokesman. He was unable, however, to give a forecast on production if the hot weather continues for several weeks.

In 2003, there were planned power cuts because of hot weather. Since then, the margin of reserve between available supply and demand has been increased to 12 pct from 2, he said. This has been done by postponing maintenance on plants from the summer, when air conditioning and freezers push up demand and by introducing new generating plants.

On hydro production, the spokesman said waters 'at the moment are sufficient', while he was not able to comment on production at Italy's largest plant Porto Tolle, near Venice, which produces 2,600 MW. In 2003, production was reduced at Porto Tolle because there was insufficient water in the river Po to cool the plant.