As record heatwaves swept across Europe this July, a string of major power outages underscored the vulnerability of the continent’s electrical infrastructure. From regional blackouts in the UK to cascading failures in Central Europe, one thing is clear: our energy systems are under pressure like never before.
At BCL Power, we’re focused on helping businesses prepare for these uncertainties with robust UPS systems, intelligent backup power solutions, and proactive energy planning.
Extreme Weather: A Growing Threat to Power Stability
Europe is experiencing more frequent and severe heatwaves, alongside a rise in violent storms and unpredictable seasonal extremes. This puts unprecedented strain on national grids by:
- Forcing air conditioning and cooling systems to run at peak load
- Overheating underground cables and transformers
- Increasing the risk of lightning strikes, flooding, and wind damage to infrastructure
- Causing thermal expansion and material fatigue in transmission lines
In July alone, multiple power grid events were triggered or exacerbated by extreme heat and infrastructure fatigue.
Notable July 2025 Power Outages
UK: 55,000 Homes Affected by June/July Grid Failure
In late June (impacting through early July), Northern Powergrid saw 55,000 customers lose power across the Northeast due to overloaded rural cabling under high summer demand. The spike in air conditioning and EV charging caused cables to overheat and trip safety systems.
Czech Republic: Grid Collapse on 4 July
A high-voltage line failure in the Czech Republic sparked a cascading outage, affecting 1 million customers, halting Prague’s metro, and leaving hundreds stranded in elevators. The event began with a snapped cable and ended in near-total disruption for several hours.
New Blackout Threats Raise Concerns Over UK Grid Resilience
A recent report from The Independent highlighted growing concerns about the UK’s energy resilience in the face of increased demand and climate-driven stress on infrastructure. Government officials warned of possible summer blackouts, similar to those seen in Spain and Portugal, driven by rising temperatures and increased energy consumption.
Experts are urging the UK to adopt a national grid resilience plan, noting that the country’s current infrastructure may not be equipped to handle future strain without proactive investment. Proposals include new legislation for backup systems, more localised energy storage, and greater integration of renewables with responsive grid support.
We’ve all experienced the intensity of recent, and more frequent heatwaves in the UK. The impact it can have on businesses can be catastrophic, so businesses must consider what elements they need to put in place to prepare for more regular, unpredictable weather impacts. With reliable and scalable backup power systems in place, businesses can weather the storm with confidence that they can maintain business continuity through any power outage – weather-related or not.
The Crucial Role of UPS Systems and Backup Power
When the grid fails, every second counts – especially for data centres, hospitals, manufacturers, and other mission-critical operations.
That’s where Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems come in. A properly sized and maintained UPS can:
- Provide immediate power during outages
- Protect equipment from power surges, brownouts, and voltage fluctuations
- Ensure business continuity until full generator systems engage or grid power returns
Heatwaves are set to become more frequent
With climate change accelerating, heatwaves are expected to increase in frequency and intensity. 2025 is likely to become the second-hottest year on record, only behind 2024. Multiple records were broken in the June–July heatwave, including mainland Portugal’s record of 46.6°C.
As extreme temperatures strain national grids and raise the risk of blackouts, backup power systems are becoming increasingly critical. Coupled with battery energy storage, backup generators, or hybrid systems, a UPS ensures that essential operations stay online when the grid goes dark.
Contact BCL Power for more information on how we can support.