5/24/2023 0 Comments Us power gridsIn its 2022 summer reliability assessment, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reported that the Midcontinent Independent Systems Operator would face a 1.7% increase in peak demand with 2.3% less generation capacity than in 2021, resulting in a higher risk of energy emergencies over the summer period. This is why I think that a focus on grid resiliency is crucial for US operators.īut it’s not just a question of climate change: as the US faces weather-induced havoc, it must also come to terms with aging infrastructure and power plant retirements, which will lead to significant electric capacity shortfalls. This climate change-induced time bomb is one of many risks to the nation’s ability to meet demand for electricity generation and distribution. This past summer, Lake Powell (on the Arizona-Utah border) – the nation’s second-largest reservoir, which supplies water and hydroelectric power to millions across the American West - plummeted to record low levels. The negative effects of climate change are plain for everyone to see, as devastating droughts, floods, heatwaves and cold spells wreak havoc on energy systems and people’s livelihoods around the world. By implementing new smart grids and digital services, the US power network will be in a better position to handle extreme weather events and large demand and supply swings – all while pushing the country toward a more sustainable power generation future.Ĭlimate change and ever-increasing grid vulnerabilities ![]() Part of this sum will be dedicated to grid modernization initiatives, including support for investments in smart grids. Through the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden administration has allocated some $370 billion to “Energy Security and Climate Change programs,” to be deployed over the next 10 years. As we all know, digitalizing the grid takes time as well as money, and efforts are under way. Demand has boomed, while the supply-side faces various challenges, including aging infrastructure, and these further expose the urgent need for grid modernization in order to improve resiliency.Īs I see it, if these challenges are to be met, then utilities and grid operators need to make significant investments in the implementation of smart grids, new digital technologies, equipment and controls. These extreme weather events – the results of climate change – have led to surges in the demand for energy and put electricity grids under extreme stress, in some cases even leading to supply failures. ![]() They have been hit by summer droughts and extreme heat waves, a particularly intense hurricane season and – lastly – record-breaking blizzards and Arctic cold. The past year has been a particularly harsh one for utilities and grid operators in the United States.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |