How much power do the biggest cities use?
When it comes to figuring out power usage, it's not only the large size of a city that can bump up consumption.
Asked by: Joanna Taylor, Salisbury
London, with a population of around 8 million, uses electrical power at an average rate equivalent to the output of around five nuclear power stations. But size isn’t everything.
Dubai, where temperatures regularly reach over 40°C, is home to some of the most power-hungry people in the world. They consume it at a rate equivalent to the output of four nuclear power stations – while having barely one-quarter the population of London.
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Authors
Robert is a science writer and visiting professor of science at Aston University.
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