Andorra Hits Record Hourly Electricity Demand of 133.6 MWh
Andorra's state utility FEDA reported the highest-ever hourly electricity peak of 133.6 MWh on 7 January amid cold weather and high tourism,.
Key Points
- New peak of 133.6 MWh at 10am on 7 January beat January 2024's 132 MWh record.
- Triggered by depression Goretti cold spell and peak-season tourists.
- Annual use grows modestly at 2%/year, below 2010 peak, but volatility rises from heating surges.
- FEDA's grid handles loads; plans investments in high-voltage lines and Spain interconnections.
Andorra recorded its highest-ever hourly electricity demand on 7 January, hitting 133.6 MWh at 10am, state utility FEDA reported in a statement.
The new peak surpassed the previous record of 132 MWh, also set in January 2024 during a comparable cold spell. It occurred amid widespread temperature drops from the passage of depression Goretti and high tourist volumes during peak season, underscoring a multi-year pattern of rising maximum demand episodes.
FEDA highlighted the contrast between these frequent peaks and the country's overall annual electricity use, which has grown steadily but modestly—around 2% per year—and remains below historical highs from 2007-2011, with the absolute peak in 2010. This divergence points to greater demand volatility, driven by sharp increases in heating needs during extreme cold.
The utility's infrastructure is fully equipped to manage such surges, ensuring reliable supply and absorption even at maximum loads. To address evolving patterns, FEDA intends to prioritize investments in high-voltage lines and the expansion of interconnection capacity with Spain, positioning the grid for future demands.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources:
- El Periòdic•
La punta de demanda elèctrica assoleix un nou rècord històric el dimecres 7 de gener i s’enfila fins als 133,6 MWh
- Bon Dia•
Nou rècord històric de consum horari d’electricitat
- Diari d'Andorra•
Rècord històric de demanda elèctrica a Andorra el 7 de gener
- ARA•
Andorra va batre el 7 de gener un nou rècord de consum elèctric
- Altaveu•
Andorra bat un nou rècord de consum horari d'electricitat amb 133,6 MWh el 7 de gener