Page 18 - European Energy Innovation magazine - spring 2023 edition

Spring 2023 European Energy Innovation
18 ELECTRIFICATION

Climate-proofing Europe’s power sector from

extreme weather while reaching net-zero

By Kristian Ruby (pictured), Eurelectric Secretary General

A unrivalled pressures. COVID-19 Smoke and debris caused by fire
few months ago Italy was
challenged how staff and systems
weather can reduce solar and wind
hit by a disastrous mudslide
worked together while Russia’s
farms’ output, whereas, during the
that killed eleven people
and tore apart the island of
can disturb wind turbines’ operation
Ischia. The tragedy was caused by invasion of Ukraine sparked one of winter, cold spells and snow sleeves
the harshest energy crises to date.
exceptionally heavy precipitations, and cause undercooling. At the same
just like the ones that flooded Climate change and extreme weather time, severe storms and floods
Germany and Belgium last year, are adding a critical component increase the risk of overtopping
causing more than 200,000 customer to an already complex map of hydropower dams and of forcing wind
outages and 220 deaths. While the risks that every utility and system turbines to shut down to prevent
list of extreme weather events across operator needs to deal with. We have wear and tear.
Europe could go on and on, what is seen hundreds of hectares burn,
most worrying is that their recurrence changes in precipitations, droughts, These climate disruptions are even
is rapidly growing. lost livelihoods, and lost lives. This stronger on distribution grids due to
is a structural shift in the weather their vast territorial exposure details
The Intergovernmental Panel on patterns of Europe where extremes Eurelectric’s Resilience study.
Climate Change (IPCC) projects a will become much more frequent in
global increase in climate hazards the future than they have been in the Faced with these weather storms, the
over the next ten years with a 50% past. power system is already employing
increase in heavy precipitation, several adaptation measures such as
a doubling of droughts, and a Record-breaking heat waves and physical hardening, network uprating,
quadrupling of extreme temperatures. droughts significantly lowered water preparedness plans, backup systems,
levels during the past summer. This and digital tools.
No European country will be spared reduced hydropower generation and
from these “climate attacks”, nor will affected nuclear and thermal plants’ Yet, rapidly growing climate hazards
their power assets. The electricity cooling capacities from France to and Europe’s renewed push for
system in Europe is indeed facing Sweden. massive clean and renewable

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