Italy records record electricity demand in July amid intense heat

Friday 14 August 2026 - 20:43

By: Azzat Manal

Italy records record electricity demand in July amid intense heat

Italy recorded its highest-ever electricity demand for the month of July, as an intense heatwave pushed up the use of air conditioning and other cooling systems across the country.

According to data from the Italian electricity grid operator, electricity consumption reached approximately 32.5 terawatt-hours in July 2026, representing an 8.3% increase compared with the same month a year earlier. Peak demand also climbed to around 58 gigawatts on July 15, up 4.5% from the previous year's peak.

The increase was largely attributed to exceptionally high temperatures, which placed additional pressure on households, businesses and public facilities relying on cooling equipment. During the final five days of July, temperatures were around 6 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average.

Electricity consumption has also maintained an upward trend over the year. During the first seven months of 2026, demand increased by 3.4% compared with the same period in 2025.

At the same time, renewable energy continued to play an important role in meeting Italy's electricity needs. Solar power production rose by 20.6% in July, while renewable sources collectively covered around 41.5% of national electricity demand.

The figures highlight how increasingly frequent and intense summer heat can affect energy consumption, while also underscoring the growing contribution of renewable sources to Italy's electricity supply.