Coronavirus lockdown pushes up heating demand across Europe – report
Clean Energy Wire
The coronavirus lockdowns have significantly pushed up heating use across Europe, according to intelligent thermostat maker tado. In Germany, where lockdown measures started on 22 March, the use of heating energy went up nine percent compared to a year earlier, the company’s analysis of more than 100,000 customers in Europe found. In Italy and Spain, where restrictions started on 9 March and 14 March respectively, heating demand rose by more than 40 percent. "The weather plays a minor role here, as outside temperatures differed from the previous year by only 1°C on average," tado said in a press release. "The increased consumption of heating energy is largely due to the fact that the population spends more time at home during the corona crisis."
The extensive suspension of Germany’s industrial production in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus will have a substantial impact on the country's energy consumption, industry association BDEW has said. Industrial customers account for between 40 and 45 percent of Germany’s electricity and natural gas consumption, but measures to contain the virus, collapsing supply chains and withering demand at home and abroad are expected to lead to a sharp decline in power consumption and, by implication, of greenhouse gas emissions.
