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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
Project Code
I11007CRP
1897Approved Date
Status
Start Date
Expected End Date
Completed Date
26 May 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.