The heat wave is set to continue in northern and western Europe for the next few weeks, with extreme temperatures expected to hit the Iberian peninsula by the end of June. In Seville, southern Spain, the mercury is forecast to hit record-breaking levels of up to 45C (113F) later this month. Meanwhile, temperatures of up to 34C in Berlin and 27C in London are expected next week, according to the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts model. The rising heat could lead to an increase in power demand in countries that rely on air conditioning such as Spain and Portugal, and the potential for drought may pose issues for hydropower generation.
Last summer, a heat wave in the region caused significant disruptions to transportation networks and led to volatility in energy and commodities prices, so such periods of unseasonable weather are of concern. Maxar Technologies Inc. has predicted that the next 6-10 days will see "unseasonably warm" temperatures, particularly in southwest Scandinavia and the British Isles. Oslo could hit temperatures of 30C this Thursday and Friday, which is 6C above the usual levels for this time of the year. Meanwhile, cities such as Amsterdam and Paris are set to experience warmer than usual weekend temperatures, while Rome will see milder weather.
While the heat wave poses potential challenges to energy supply, it also presents opportunities for renewable energy sources. German solar output is forecast to reach a peak of 39,076 megawatts on Tuesday, before dipping on Wednesday, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. In the UK, solar power is set to remain a major energy source during the warm weather, with generation expected to reach 9,374 megawatts by 1 p.m. on Wednesday.