Last week, we had several surveys where we sat down with the client and we asked this one question.
‘If you do have solar, why are you doing it’
I was half expecting the usual ‘savings and earning from the Smart Export Guarantee’ as one of the primary drivers. On one of the surveys, the client just looked at me and asked ‘do you read the news?’
It wasn’t about money to them, although the £1300 a yr savings they’re likely to make will make them feel good at some point, it was all about the climate and adding resilience to their lives when the grid goes down.
Now I’m pretty tuned in with regards to climate related disasters so thought I’d ask ‘the internet’ how many climate related disasters have we had so far this year……….. Even I was shocked at how many we’d experienced this year already.
Here’s the list of climate events to date……………
Global Climate‑Driven Disasters in 2025
1. January – Southern California Wildfires (USA)
Fires across Greater Los Angeles (January 7–31):
• >30 dead, ~200 000 evacuated, >18 000 structures destroyed; ~57 000 acres burned. These became some of California’s most destructive blazes ever—driven by drought and violent Santa Ana winds intensified by warming trends.
2. April–May – Russian Wildfires (Russia)
Fires across Siberia and the Russian Far East, burning over 629 000 hectares. Major contributing factors included severe drought and frequent grass‑burning practices. Three firefighters were killed in regional emergencies declared in April and May.
3. March–April – Bolivia Floods (Bolivia)
Ongoing floods triggered by extended rainy season across Bolivia. At least 55 deaths, widespread displacement of ~593 000 families; many regions declared states of emergency.
4. May – Mokwa Flood (Nigeria)
Flash floods in Mokwa, Niger State (May 28–29): over 500 confirmed deaths, more than 600 missing, >4 000 homes destroyed, bridges and roads washed away.
5. June–July – Pakistan Floods (Pakistan)
Pre‑monsoon flash floods across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Azad Kashmir. At least 200 deaths, 560 injuries, and mass displacement. Rescue and response criticized for delays.
6. July – Extreme Heatwave in East Asia (Japan & South Korea)
Japan recorded 41.2 °C (its highest temperature ever recorded); South Korea saw 22 consecutive tropical nights with lows above 25 °C. More than 270 locations in Japan exceeded 35 °C. Hospitalizations soared; 16 deaths in Japan, 13 in Korea due to heat‑related illness.
7. Late July – Mediterranean Wildfires and Tropical Storms
In Turkey and Cyprus, multiple dangerous wildfires killed several people and forced hundreds to evacuate. Meanwhile tropical storm Wipha struck Vietnam, South Korea, the Philippines and China causing floods, at least 19 deaths, and tens of thousands displaced in Hebei’s Baoding region.
8. Late July – Severe Flooding in China
Torrential rains in Beijing and Hebei Province dumped record rainfall (e.g. ~21 inches in Miyun district), killing at least 38 and displacing more than 80 000 people. In many cases local infrastructure failed amidst landslides and widespread power loss.
9. Flash Floods & Tornado Outbreak (USA)
In March (March 13–16), severe storm systems caused flash flooding, hail, powerful winds, and tornadoes across multiple states. The outbreak cost an estimated $9.5 billion and contributed to roughly $33 billion in U.S. severe storm losses in H1, the fourth‑highest on record. At least 35 tornado‑related deaths by May.
10. Ongoing – Africa & Global Impact Trends
Lightning strikes in Andhra Pradesh, India killed 54 people between March and July, linked to climate‑driven increases in storm intensity.
And as Northern England and Scotland are just about to be battered by #StormFloris today, it certainly got me thinking.
So this morning, I’ll be changing all our price lists to INCLUDE whole house back-up as standard in our proposals for Home Energy Systems.
We also have a range of off grid, portable power options, (batteries in boxes) for both emergencies, as well as the convenience for remote working, leisure as we can now power anything, anywhere.
You know where we are
www.thesolarshed.co.uk/contact-us