Solar delivers as Europe’s power plants struggle amid heat and drought

This summer's record heat and drought in Europe put a strain on the power plants that keep the lights and air conditioners running. Nuclear, gas, and coal plants had to cut output because rivers used for cooling grew too warm or dried up, and low wind during the heat waves cut wind power too. France lost 18% of its nuclear capacity in mid-July for these reasons, and UK gas plants scaled back as well.

Solar panels were the one power source that performed better than usual, producing 17% more electricity during the heat waves, according to the energy think tank Ember. Paired with batteries, which store solar power to use after sunset, this kept air conditioners running into the evening when heat lingered but the sun had gone down. Electricity demand jumped sharply during the heat waves — up 28% in Italy and 14% in France compared with the week before — and prices spiked at times to levels not seen since the 2022–23 energy crisis.

None of this changes rebates or programs available to homeowners, but it's a real-world example of solar and battery storage proving useful during extreme heat, when the power grid is under the most strain. As heat waves become more common and more households add cooling systems, industry analysts say growing battery storage will matter for keeping power reliable and prices in check during future hot spells.