Enhancing resilience climate-proofing power infrastucture

In recent decades the effects of climate change on humanity and the earth have become more frequent
and severe. Under the Paris Agreement, 197 countries committed to limiting global warming to below 2°C
above pre-industrial levels by submitting nationally determined contributions (NDCs) every five years.
These documents outline targets and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen climate adaptation. Although mitigation has dominated climate discussions, the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events due to climate change has shifted the focus towards adaptation. The most recent Conferences of the Parties (COPs) provide evidence of this, where climate-related loss and damage as well as mobilisation of private finance for adaptation and resilience were the centre of important discussions. Despite the progress that has been made, further action is needed to support countries in their fight against the impacts of climate events, especially for least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS). These countries face heightened vulnerability to extreme weather events, with fewer resources to maintain or increase their resilience to such events. The current round of NDC updates – NDC 3.0 – and upcoming NDC implementation plans offer crucial opportunities for countries to prioritise adaptation planning.
The urgency of addressing the significant impacts that extreme weather events and climate change have on power system assets, often leading to power outages, is reinforced by the world’s predicted reliance on power systems. According to IRENA’s 1.5°C Scenario, by 2050 electricity will account for more than 52% of total final energy consumption, while in 2022 its share was only 23% (IRENA, 2024). This is why power systems must be climate resilient. Furthermore, with renewable energy having a more prominent role in the power sector, the list of power sector assets is supplemented by storage technologies and other enablers that support the incorporation of variable renewable generation units such as solar PV and wind. Understanding the role of these technologies as enablers and enhancers of power system resilience becomes very important as well. Resilience is a broad concept that can be applied to the most diverse fields. Although no unanimous definition exists, it is usually described as a given system’s level of capability to respond to different stages following a hazardous event. The power sector has long been incorporating resilience into its systems, including both.

source:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sustainability-infographics_climate-resilient-grids-activity-7416105481477554176-wmL-?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAtGGkQBsxwMBmX3lEJO8btihnfBCaHqTz4