The pressure on Europe's power system also intensified as the summer progressed, as heatwaves and droughts reduced the efficiency of some thermal power plants and forced others offline entirely. Lower reservoir levels curbed hydropower output, while reduced cooling water availability affected nuclear generation. At the same time, the extreme heat drove up demand for air conditioning. The burden on Europe's citizens and businesses rose sharply as a result, with higher electricity bills compounding the pressure already being felt from volatile fossil fuel markets.
Solar cuts EU gas bill by €20 billion during Middle East war
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe: "Solar has been delivering huge financial benefits for Europe since the latest fossil fuel crisis in the Middle East began. The Iran War deepened the turmoil in energy markets generated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. A dependency on the flow of oil and gas is clearly a risky energy strategy. Pipelines and shipping lanes have repeatedly proven vulnerable to disruption. This is not a hole the fossil fuel sector can drill us out of. The solution is above us, and Europe must grab it with both hands." (hcn)
