Last month, the average maximum power demand set a record high for July. This is due to the worst heatwave and tropical nights on record.
According to the power statistics information system of the Korea Electric Power Exchange on the 3rd, the average maximum power last month was 85.0 GW (gigawatts), which is a 5.6% increase compared to the same period last year. The figure from last month is the highest for July since the statistics were first compiled in 1993.
Maximum power refers to the power demand during the time of day when demand is highest. Power demand in July remained below 60 GW until 2009, but exceeded 60 GW from 2010 to 2015, and has surpassed 70 GW since 2016. It has increased for three consecutive years from 2023 (79.2 GW) to this year.
The early heat compared to previous years appears to have led to a surge in power demand. According to the weather data open portal of the Korea Meteorological Administration, the number of heatwave days, defined as days where the maximum temperature exceeds 33 degrees Celsius, totaled 15 last month. This exceeded the average of 3.4 days in July over the past 53 years since statistics were first compiled in 1973.
The scorching heat during the day led to tropical nights. A tropical night, defined as a night when the minimum temperature stays above 25 degrees Celsius from 6:01 p.m. to 9 a.m. the next day, lasted for a total of 23 days last month. This was the longest duration recorded in 53 years since data collection began in 1973.
On the 10th of last month, the government announced its 'summer power supply and demand outlook and measures,' projecting that maximum power demand this summer could rise to between 94.1 and 97.8 GW (gigawatts) around 5 to 6 p.m. on weekdays in the second week of August. If it reaches 97.8 GW, it would surpass the previous record high demand of 97.1 GW set on August 20 of last year.
In preparation for this situation, the government is maintaining reserve power of around 10 GW. Additionally, it has designated the period until the 19th of this month as the summer power supply and demand measures period and is operating an emergency response system in coordination with relevant agencies, including the Korea Electric Power Corporation.