Techno-economic Evaluation of Options for Adapting Nuclear and other Energy Infrastructure to Long-term Climate Change and Extreme Weather
Closed for Proposals
Project Type
Coordinated Research ProjectProject Code
I11007
CRP
1897
Approved Date
27/02/2012Project Status
ClosedStart Date
13/12/2012Expected End Date
13/12/2015Completed Date
26/05/2016Description
The CRP participants will identify the risks from climate change and extreme weather events facing nuclear energy and other types of energy infrastructure in their respective countries in a comparative assessment.? ?While an emphasis will be made on nuclear power infrastructure, the integrated nature of energy systems means that participants will evaluate all country-relevant components of energy infrastructure, which may include solar, wind, hydro, coal, oil & gas, and the grid system.? Participants will then develop economically viable risk-based adaptation plans.? Given the regional variation in expected climate change and extreme weather impacts, some adaptation options will likely vary from country to country even for the same type of energy infrastructure.? Nevertheless, many of the options will be common across countries, and the opportunity to share information will be invaluable in exploring options to reduce the exposure of existing and planned nuclear energy facilities and the rest of the energy system to climate change and extreme weather events and in crafting adaptation plans. Coordination will be pursued with NE-NPES and, to the extent nuclear safety issues will emerge, with the Department NS.
Objectives
The overall objective is to identify the risks from climate change and extreme weather events facing nuclear energy and other types of energy infrastructure in various countries in a comparative assessment. While an emphasis is made on nuclear power infrastructure, the integrated nature of energy systems means that participants evaluated all country-relevant components of energy infrastructure, including solar, wind, hydro, coal, oil & gas, and the grid system.
Specific Objectives
To develop, test and improve an analytical framework for identifying and assessing risks from climate change and extreme weather events.
To foster Member States in evaluating the climate-related risks facing nuclear power and other energy infrastructure in a comparative assessment.
To help Member States develop economically viable risk-based options for adaptation.
To prepare a state-of-the-art in-depth catalogue of risks and options relevant to the regions and energy systems represented by CRP participants.
To provide a forum in which Member States can share information about how to respond to these risks.
Impact
It is expected, that the results of Slovenia and Argentina teams will form inputs for shaping long-term investment policy of energy providers.
Furthermore, it is expected that the thematic discussions, the methods adopted and the insights gained from the CRP and the report will be useful for MS interested in engaging in the evaluation of climate related risks facing nuclear energy and other types of energy infrastructure.
Relevance
Besides mitigation actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in their Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, countries need also to report vulnerabilities to climate change and adaptation measures. Although the Paris Agreement is not specific on any sector, climate change is expected to trigger considerable impacts for the energy sector too. There is thus a need to identify those impacts and to take adaptation action to lessen them so that the energy supply remains secure and reliable. The CRP showed different analytical frameworks to identify/ assess / adapt to climate change in energy sector. As such, it could be useful for MS interested in engaging in the evaluation of vulnerabilities due to climate change in the energy sector.
CRP Publications
1. Argentina / National Commission of Atomic Energy, 2. Slovenia / Jozef Stefan Institute
Journal Articles
2016, 2017
1. Abstract Argentina: We studied the role of cold waves and heat waves on major power outages in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires. Impacts of events occurring in the tails of distributions were assessed estimating deviations of minimum temperature, maximum temperature and hourly electricity consumption with respect to statistically derived thresholds and using three sets of data: temperature observations (1911–2013); major power outages reported in a disaster database (1971–2013) and hourly electricity consumption (2006–2013). These deviations (exceedances) proved to be adequate indicators of the stress posed by extreme temperature events to the electricity distribution system leading to major blackouts. Based on these indicators, we found that the electricity distribution system was under similar stress during cold waves or heat waves, but it was much more vulnerable to heat waves (three blackouts under cold waves against 20 under heat waves between 2006 and 2013). For heat waves, the results of a binomial regression logistic model provided an adequate description of the probability of disastrous supply interruptions in terms of exceedances in extreme temperatures and electricity consumption stress. This approach may be of use for other cities wishing to evaluate the effects of extreme temperature events on the electricity distribution infrastructure.2. Abstract Slovenia: The paper concerns the potential for spatial planning to improve the reliability of electric power infrastructure. The aim is to reduce risks of electric power outages due to extreme weather events (EWE) byproper siting of installations. A method of evaluating risks due to EWE is applied in two case studies. The first considers ice storms and the damage they cause to power grids; the second considers the damage of heavy rainstorms to hydroelectric power plants (HPPs). The results are presented in the form of a risk assessment method that can be incorporated into spatial planning.