Global blackouts highlight infrastructure vulnerabilities amid climate challenges

During the scorching summer in Montenegro's capital Podgorica, daily life ground to a halt earlier this year under the blazing Adriatic sun.

Traffic came to a standstill with cars and buses trapped in gridlock due to malfunctioning traffic lights. The internet crashed, and security alarms blared across the city in response to a sudden loss of power supply, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

The blackout in late June, triggered by a surge in consumption and unstable supply links, not only disrupted Montenegro but also caused grid failures in neighboring countries. It severely impacted households, hospitals, and beach bars, highlighting vulnerabilities in Balkan infrastructure that resonate globally.

Similar incidents have been observed worldwide. In Houston, millions of households endured blackouts following Hurricane Beryl, losing air conditioning amid sweltering post-storm heat. Recent weeks have seen power outages affect millions from Ecuador to India, underscoring the potential for widespread disruption across both emerging and developed economies.

Unstable energy networks pose risks to businesses, impact political stability, and threaten lives. The estimated cost of expanding global grids to meet net-zero emissions goals by 2050 is approximately $24.1 trillion, surpassing investments needed in renewable energy capacity. The United States and China face the highest costs due to their expansive territories and high energy consumption, though no country is immune.

Most blackouts occur due to sudden shifts in supply or demand. Storm damage, fluctuations in renewable energy generation, or spikes in usage can overwhelm inadequately resilient networks, leading to power failures.

Climate change exacerbates vulnerabilities, affecting not only developing economies but also mid-tier countries like energy-rich Mexico, Kuwait, and import-dependent nations such as Albania. In Kuwait, one of the world's wealthiest nations, residents experienced rolling blackouts in June as grid operators intentionally shut down sections to prevent a complete collapse. Power plants struggled to meet demand surges as temperatures soared above 50 degrees Celsius (122F), prompting a surge in emergency calls from people stranded in elevators.