Climate and Energy Systems; Risks, Potential and Adaption

Will the reservoars fill up? Can wind conditions change? Renewable energy resources are climate sensitive. This project looks at climate impacts in the short run, 20-30 years, focusing on the energy sector.

Project assesses the impacts of climate change on the Nordic energy sector. Large parts of the Nordic countries energy comes from natural resources, making their energy sector especialy vulnerable to climate change. (Photo:Crestock)

Project assesses the impacts of climate change on the Nordic energy sector. Large parts of the Nordic countries energy comes from natural resources, making their energy sector especialy vulnerable to climate change. (Photo:Crestock)

 

Knowledge about past, present and future variability in climate and hydrology is of vital importance to the energy sector. A change in hydro-climatological variability may lead to changes in the operation of reservoirs and wind turbines and the energy production potential itself. In particular the variability in hydropower is a great concern in the light of some very wet years and some sudden dry years, which have resulted in highly variable prices on electricity. The power industry and society needs to make long term decisions, for example, investments in new production capacity.

The project will address how the conditions for production of renewable energy in the Nordic area might change due to global warming. It will focus on the potential production and the future safety of the production systems as well as uncertainties. The key objectives are summarized as:

  • Understanding of the natural variability and predictability of climate and renewable energy systems at different scales in space and time.
  • Assessment of the risks due to changes in probabilities and nature of extreme events.
  • Assessment of the risks and opportunities due to changes in production of renewable energy.
  • Development of guiding principles for decisions under climate variability and change.
  • Development of adaptation strategies.
  • A structured dialog with stakeholders.

 

Learn more about the project on the Icelandic Met Office's web pages.

 

Article produced by Eilif Ursin Reed 10.12.2009

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