By – Saksham Raj

Abstract

Heatwaves have growingly become one of the world’s deadliest natural hazards in terms of human mortality, claiming only a little less than five lakh deaths annually between the years 2000 and 2019. Air conditioning systems, cooling units and refrigerators provide us with relief in this scorching heat, but this transient utopia comes with a cost. This article analyses the noxious relationship shared between heatwaves and the surging energy consumption. Energy overconsumption due to rising demand for A/Cs and cooling units is said to have an inimical effect on the environment, which leads to further intensification of heatwaves. This article is a dive into the critical intricacies of this deadly phenomenon, a vicious cycle of dissipating the heat in our rooms while feeding the flames in the natural realm. The article examines the multifaceted ways in which excessive use of energy during heat waves contributes to the acceleration of global warming. This study also discusses the strain on energy resources and the effect of heatwaves on energy demand, which can, in dire cases, cause an energy crisis. The analysis gives an insight into the acute issues faced by these air-conditioning systems against the backdrop of rising ambient temperatures.

Introduction

Heatwaves have become the number one weather-related cause of death in the United States, with more than 67,000 people getting hospitalized in the U.S. annually due to heat. Even in India, heat strokes caused 20,615 deaths between 2000 and 2020, making it a major hazard. In the wake of global warming, India has been experiencing extremely warm summers, with February of this year being the hottest in the last 125 years. This, as a result, shoots up the demand for air conditioning systems, cooling units and refrigerators, increasing the level of energy consumption. However, this over-consumption of energy for cooling has adverse and contrasting consequences. In the peak months of the Indian summer of 2024, the rise in electricity demand was about 10.8% when compared to the same period of the previous year. Air conditioners are reported to have a one-third contribution to this rise, where heat waves have driven almost one-fifth of the global electricity demand last year. Although these cooling units present us with a momentary respite, the consequences are paradoxical and often self-defeating. The increase in energy demand creates a three-end cycle, which contributes to the intensification of heatwaves in its immediate aftermath. 

The Chilling Paradox 

At the inception, thermal power plants, reliant on the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and oil for generation of electricity are responsible for over two-thirds of India’s demand for electricity. Most of these thermal power plants are coal-based, which release pollutants and greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide, which fuel global warming. The rise in electricity demand last year resulted in an addition of 223 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. Therefore, rising energy demand drives a corresponding surge in production which, when met through thermal power plants, contributes to the long-term intensification of heatwaves by releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. 

Secondly, the generation and transmission of electric currents inherently produce heat within power plants and across the power grid. As the volume and pace of energy production increase, so does the intensity of heat generated. The continuous flow of vast amounts of electricity through these systems often results in significant overheating. This can have detrimental effects, like failure of the machinery, leading to large-scale outages and even environmental damage. To prevent this, cooling systems are installed in these components to ensure that they run efficiently. However, the function of these cooling systems is not to dispel the heat, but rather to transfer it. The heat is absorbed by these cooling systems and released into the surroundings, leading to an increase in the local temperature.  

Furthermore, cooling systems are of different types – air-based, water-based and refrigerant-based. Once-through cooling system is a subtype of cooling systems based on water meant for cooling thermal power plants. It withdraws cool water from water bodies and releases warm water back into them, increasing the temperature of water bodies, ultimately leading to global warming. Though these cooling systems ensure smooth functioning of power grids and power plants, they result in aggravation of the effect of heatwaves. Ultimately, air conditioners and refrigerators are known to provide us with – what feels like – a heavenly escape, but they also have a contrary effect on the realm of nature. The equipment of these cooling appliances use hydrofluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons, which are released in the form of greenhouse gases, worsening the effect of rising temperatures. Similar to cooling systems, A/Cs and refrigerators also operate on the principle of heat transfer and, in doing so, release waste heat into the surrounding environment contributing to rising ambient temperatures and exacerbating the severity of heatwaves.

Chilling Ourselves into Crisis 

India had hit an electricity demand of 201 GW by the end of April in 2022, and with further addition of air conditioners anticipated, these demands could shoot up to unprecedented levels, propelling the country into an energy crisis. However, heatwaves, except for their correlation with energy demands, have other effects which can cause an energy crisis as well. 

More than 81% of the world’s electricity is produced through such thermal power plants, which are reliant on water-cooling systems. Nuclear power plants also use water-based cooling systems to eliminate the heat in the reactor and cool down the steam used to generate electricity. These power plants are stationed near water bodies with abundant cold water for the effective functioning of these cooling systems. However, during these heat waves, these water bodies become warm because of the high capacity of water for trapping heat, the principle which makes it a conducive cooling agent. This forces the power plants to shut down or function inefficiently, leading to large-scale power outages. In cases of extreme heat, it can lead to drought affecting these cooling systems as well as hydroelectric power generation in India, which accounted for one-eighth of the country’s power generation in 2022-2023. Additionally, cooling systems run on electricity, as well, the addition of which escalates energy-consumption levels. 

Against the backdrop of extreme heat, it would be anticipated that solar energy-based power generation would see an upsurge. Ironically, the efficiency of solar panels decreases with an increase in temperature over 25 degrees Celsius. Thus, heatwaves propel the demand for electricity whilst negatively affecting the sources responsible for its generation, resulting in the creation of a vicious loop. 

Penetrating the Doors: The Irony of the Flaming Conundrum 

Against the backdrop of these invisible disasters called heat waves, the rise in ambient temperatures due to the heat emitted by the cooling systems, refrigerators and air conditioners has a considerable impact on the efficiency of these very appliances. The performance of air conditioning systems is adversely affected if there is a rise in surrounding temperature, as these appliances struggle to maintain the desired indoor temperature because of compromised cooling capacity. As a result, air conditioners draw significantly more electricity to compensate for their reduced efficiency, further exacerbating overall energy consumption. These appliances undermine their very purpose and become self-defeating, providing only temporary relief to consumers while damaging the biosphere in the long term. 

Translating Analysis into Action

Amidst global warming and these intensifying heatwaves, preventive action is needed. Several measures can be taken to reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants. A transition to renewable sources of energy production is imperative, a change which is already happening as renewable energy accounted for 12% electricity generation in the U.S.A. India has started taking strides in the direction of renewable energy sources as well, having achieved 201 GW of power generation capacity from renewable sources. Various water-based cooling systems like recirculating and dry cooling have been introduced for their environmental benefits, though they can be less efficient and harder to operate. In response, advanced systems using polymers and nanomaterials are being developed to reduce water use and thermal pollution. Smart cooling systems with sensors are also being installed to enhance process efficiency. In addition, climate-friendly alternatives like transitional refrigerants should be made mandatory and harmful refrigerants should be completely phased out to reduce the waste heat and pollutants emitted by air-conditioners. 

Conclusion 

Heatwaves, dubbed as “the silent killer” by experts, have increased in both intensity and frequency over time, but this phenomenon is as driven by us as much as nature. Heatwaves drive up energy consumption through appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators, creating a harmful cycle across the production, transmission, and distribution stages of the energy chain. Increased demand for cooling intensifies heatwaves, while combined effects like reduced solar efficiency, droughts, and higher electricity use risk triggering an energy crisis. Moreover, rising ambient temperatures lower air conditioners’ efficiency, revealing the suicidal purpose of these appliances. In this context, shifting from thermal power to renewable energy is crucial, as it reduces reliance on cooling systems and offers broad benefits, preventing water body warming, easing drought impacts, and maintaining solar panel efficiency by stabilizing local temperatures. This transition also helps cut greenhouse gas emissions and avert an energy crisis. Moreover, steps can also be taken to replace traditional cooling systems and refrigerants with advanced and transitional agents. Taken together, we need to stop fuelling “the silent killer”, whose very nature lies in its capacity to kill unnoticed.

Author’s Bio 

Saksham Raj is a freshman at Jindal Global Law School, pursuing a B.A.LL.B degree. His interest lies in uncovering the nuances of social issues and subtle ironies presented by nature.

Image Source –                                                           –                                                   https://www.thestatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Delhi-heat-wave-weather.jpg