Climate Change Studies for Hydroelectric Utilities
Abstract
Adapting to change is part of hydroelectric power generation. Traditionally, forecasting the amount of water in a reservoir, and when that water will arrive, has been essential for predicting load capabilities. Recently, growing evidence shows the effects of climate change must also be taken into account to effectively predict future supply issues. Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro (NLH), Canada's fourth largest utility, is initiating a study of climate change implications for the operation and planning of large-scale hydroelectric and wind energy projects within Newfoundland and Labrador. In collaboration with Memorial University's Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, NLH will begin this investigation by quantifying changes to volumes and timing of water inflows to their hydroelectric reservoirs and its impact on future operations. As the work continues, these studies will extend to climate induced load forecasting, the implications of icing and other climate extremes on infrastructure, and the integration of climate dependent alternate energy sources, such as wind, into the NLH system. Given the dependency of hydro and wind energy generation on climate systems, it is prudent to quantify the magnitude and uncertainty associated with future climate impacts. This poster will summarize some of the preliminary activities that have taken place to date, including a comprehensive review of the available literature regarding climate projections for Newfoundland and Labrador and a discussion of how these projections might be translated into climate induced loads on NLH's system. Future research initiatives will also be introduced.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2008
- Bibcode:
- 2008AGUFMGC31A0741R
- Keywords:
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- 1630 Impacts of global change (1225);
- 1655 Water cycles (1836)