Can the grid keep up?

As global temperatures rise, so does the need for cooling. Rinnai’s Managing Director Tony Gittings looks at the reasons behind these accelerated increases in demand.

Can our electricity grids handle the heat – and can governments accommodate growing demand without infringing upon net zero ambitions? A requirement for properties to be cooled during summer months is becoming ever more sought after by both international and UK customers. Global temperatures are rising, largely due to human activity. Records have confirmed that 2024 was the first calendar year that the average global temperature exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

In recent times the UK has also recorded the highest ever temperature, 40.3°C on 19 July, 2022, in Lincolnshire. Official Met Office data has confirmed that 2025 was the hottest summer since records began in 1884. From 1 June to 31 August the average temperature was 16.1°C, 1.51°C above the long-term meteorological mean temperature. The previous record was 15.76°C set in 2018.

This official data highlights why air conditioning and cooling is fast becoming a real problem for the UK property stock during the summer months. It is estimated that 3% of UK homes currently have air conditioning, while some researchers have projected that as many as 79% of UK domiciles will contain cooling devices by 2085.In the European block, around 20% of private dwellings own air conditioning facilities. 

A major future issue is now expected regarding the expansion of cooling AC systems: how will the increase of electricity production, distribution and usage affect net zero ambitions across the globe? The UK government is drafting a ‘Cooling Outlook’ document – which aims to present a series of measures that identify policy, data and practices that guarantee air conditioning is aligned with global cooling pledge commitments.

The purpose of the document will be to offer a single authorised paper of all aspects concerned with UK cooling: issues that will be explored and improved upon consist of policy refinement, cooling related data accumulation and sharing, government interdepartmental collaboration in creating a shared understanding of domestic cooling approach and promoting the adoption of sustainable cooling technology.

A majority of air conditioning units are powered by electricity and renewable sources of fuel such as wind or solar. European gross electricity consumption in 2023 shows that 45.3% was derived from renewable sources. UK figures between January 2024-2025 demonstrate that 42.3% of all generated electricity was cultivated via clean renewable resources.

As more utility scale renewable projects are added, larger volumes of clean electricity can be accessed by air cooling technologies, meaning that AC units can be considered a clean utility.  

Due to rising global and domestic UK temperatures the use of cooling technologies is projected to rise across all countries. As to limit any additional emissions that could be added to international and national carbon loads, preparations and measures that specifically focus on air conditioning must be implemented towards official environmental targets.

The Global Cooling Pledge (GCP) and the UK “Cooling Outlook” document are evidence that an increase in cooling systems used by buildings in summer are under serious observation. 

Rinnai constantly monitors any movement in policy that affects commercial and residential heating, air conditioning and hot water. Specifiers will be kept informed on any insight into potential adaptations of UK government and global energy direction.    

www.rinnai-uk.co.uk