Electricity demand doubles

THE consumption of electricity on Majorca has doubled since 1995.
Between 1995 and 2005 the increase in demand for electricity was 89.3 percent. At the end of 2006, if you take into account that just this summer consumption records have been broken on Majorca and Minorca, it can be assumed that the rise in consumption from 1995-2006 will equal, overtake or be knocking at the door of 100 percent, that is to say, the demand has doubled in just 11 years. As for the points of consumption for electricity, these have increased by 66 percent since 1998. In that year, the maximum electricity demand on the Majorca-Minorca system was 626.5 megawatts. In 2006, with new records on consumption, it stands, at the moment, at 1'040 megawatts for the same system. However, the demand for the whole of the month of August remains to be seen and the prediction of both GESA and Red Electrica de España is that it will rise to 1'060 megawatts. The main reason for this increase in demand, very much above the national average, is the massive installation of air conditioning units caused by very hot and dry summers such as 2003 and this year and also because there have been some very cold winters during these first years of the 21st century. Also contributing to the rise in electricity consumption has been the equally massive rise in new electrical appliances such as ceramic hobs, microwaves, freezers, dryers etc. The generating power of the Majorca-Minorca system is at the moment, after the incorporation of two new turbines in Cas Tresorer, 1'360 megawatts, a reserve margin of 300 megawatts above the expected demand for this year, which is 1'060 megawatts. This margin should be sufficient to meet maximum demand. July ended as the second hottest in recorded history in the Balearics after the comparison and verification of the figures.
Sa Pobla recorded 17 days on which the maximum temperature was 35 degrees or more.
The average temperature in Sa Pobla in July was 27.4 degrees, equalling the highest average in the same month, which was in 1982.
Palma airport had a maximum temperature of 33 degrees or more on 14 days in July, of which seven equalled or went above 35 degrees.
July was, for Palma airport, the third hottest in its history with an average of 26.2 degrees, behind 2003 (26.9 degrees) and 1982 (26.6 degrees). In Portopi, July of 2006 was historic, being the second hottest with an average of 27.4 degrees, like Sa Pobla, only being beaten by July 2003 with 27.8 degrees. In this respect, the figures for Minorca and Ibiza also stand out. Ibiza had over 32 degrees on 20 days in July and Minorca had the same for 18 days. For Ibiza, July 2006 was the third hottest in its recorded history and for Minorca, it was the second hottest. Also, the Meteorological Centre recorded a maximum temperature of 40.2 degrees in Muro on July 22. The absolute record for the highest temperature on Majorca is 43 degrees, also recorded in Muro, in June 2001.