Experts warn prolonged heat could strain electricity grid as cooling needs rise
PETALING JAYA: The domestic demand for electricity spikes each time El Nino hits Malaysia, supporting the claim that hotter weather may risk straining the power system.
Figures from the Energy Commission’s MyEnergyStats portal show that maximum electricity demand rose 26.2% in 2024 to 24,873 MW, from 19,716 MW in 2023, during the 2023-2024 El Nino episode.
A similar increase was recorded earlier when El Nino happened in 2015-2016, with maximum electricity demand in Peninsular Malaysia rising 5.7% to 17,788 MW in 2016, from 16,822 MW in 2015.
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A council member of the Malaysia Association of Engineers, Dr Muhammad Arkam Che Munaaim, said higher outdoor temperature increases the amount of heat entering buildings, forcing air-conditioning systems to work harder to maintain comfortable indoor temperature.
“During prolonged hot weather season, two things generally happen. First, consumers use air-conditioning more frequently and for longer periods.
“Second, cooling systems themselves have to work harder to maintain the required indoor temperature,” he said.
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He added that Malaysia should prepare for the possibility of higher and more persistent electricity demand if hotter and drier weather conditions continue.
Dr Muhammad Arkam said that Malaysia must build greater resilience into its energy system to cope with the issue.
He said although electricity demand is influenced by factors beyond weather, including economic and population growth, the increase in usage illustrates the pressure placed on the power system during periods of high demand.
“We cannot control the Earth’s natural cycles, nor can we stop El Nino from developing.
“What we can control is how intelligently we use energy, how efficiently we design our buildings, how accurately we forecast electricity demand and how resiliently we plan our infrastructure,” he said.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) also said that El Nino could increase cooling demand this year in many countries.
In its commentary, titled “Cooling a hotter world: El Nino meets strong growth in global electricity demand”, the IEA said El Nino could create effects such as heatwaves extending well into 2027.
“Heatwaves affect cooling demand in two ways. First, they increase the utilisation of existing air conditioners. The more extreme the heat, the more consumers – even those who are price sensitive and use cooling sparingly – tend to switch on their ACs,” it said.
The IEA added that heatwaves could also stimulate air-conditioner sales, increasing ownership and creating a longer-term increase in electricity demand.
The Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia (TEEAM) said prolonged hot spells during El Nino could drive sharp spikes in residential electricity use, with space cooling being the primary driver.
It said Malaysia’s national grid typically experiences its heaviest load between 7.30pm and 10pm, when households return home and switch on air-conditioners, cooking appliances and water heaters.
Meanwhile, commercial and retail demand is also high.
“El Nino does not necessarily imply round-the-clock max-load usage, but it significantly elevates demand during late afternoon and evening windows as millions of air-conditioning units are switched on simultaneously across the country,” it said.
Southeast Asia Development Solutions, a platform of the Asian Development Bank, said higher temperatures could also pose risks to energy security.
“A heatwave raises the demand for cooling, increasing electricity consumption. Energy systems can overheat and become less efficient in producing electricity, or even result in power failures,” it said.
