Why do power stations generate more electricity in summer than in winter?

Answer 1

Electricity is used in three major areas; industrial processes, heating/cooling, and lighting.

Of these, the only one that remains fairly constant year-round is the industrial processes (specifically the energy required to operate the process, not including the environmental aspects also covered under the other two areas).

Summer provides longer hours of sunlight, therefore less requirement for "lighting". This is directly visible in a decreased demand for electricity in this market. However, lighting is only a very small (<10) percentage of the total electricity use.

The big difference comes in the heating/cooling category. In winter, there are alternate methods for generating heat (oil, natural gas, coal, and wood stoves). Between them, the alternate heat methods account for approximately 85 percent of the homes and businesses. However, the cooling required during the summer is almost 100 percent powered by electricity.

The difference in electricity usage is - near enough - directly related to the difference between heating consumption and cooling consumption.

Answer 2

In summer people cool their homes with refrigeration systems that are driven by electrical motors. There are some very special cases where heat can be used as an energy source in a cooling system, but for the most part, electric motors are used to run modern air conditioning systems. These systems drive compressors that require motors that can be relatively large compared to just a fan motor.

In the winter time, heat is needed and we burn large amounts of natural gas and oil directly in the home to produce heat. The only motor needed for this operation is a fan motor which compared to an air conditioner motor requires much less electricity,

In addition, the days are shorter in the winter, so we require more electricity for lighting as well.

Thus in general, the demand for electricity in the winter is greater than in the summer. I say generally, because depending upon where you live, the winters and summers are not the same as in other places. For example, Maine has very cold winters but mild summers compared to Southern California. So it can be region specific.

Answer 3

Depends where you are. I'm presuming the USA as unbelievably lots and lots of people turn on air conditioners just to feel a little cooler. This is a HUGE waste of energy consuming lots of valuable fuels and putting millions of tons of carbon into the air which in turn will make it hotter. Apart from a few applications e.g. hospital wards etc air conditioners should be banned or at the very least only used above say 30 deg C
Europe uses much less electricity in the summer and it is a time when power stations may be closed down for maintenance

Answer 4

They have a bottom line and Shareholders to report to, if the Profit Margin is low, the price goes up.
Could be the AC units in poorley Insulated homes. Also there is a larger demand in Warmer Months because of Work being done.

Answer 5

ambient temp in winter is lower than summer so raw material used needs more energy inputted into it to reach the point where is will create the sustainable cunbustion needed to maintain energy needed to turn turbine.

Answer 6

To run under the extra demand of air conditioning the customers use...

Answer 7

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Answer 8

in summer months more air conditioning and refrigeration equipment are running on warmer months

Answer 9

because in summer people use air conditions , fans , refrigerator

Answer 10

Do they? news to me, I don't see why.