How the climate crisis is threatening power supply stability

Extreme weather events mean once reliable sources of power can fail

Weather forecasting has become an important factor in keeping the lights on. It also enables producers of power to match their output to times of peak demand and so command the highest prices, boosting profits. However, climate change is making the whole process much more difficult. Extreme weather events - high winds, heatwaves, freezing rain, and loss of glaciers and snow pack mean once reliable sources of power can fail.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says 87% of global electricity comes from nuclear, hydro and thermal fossil fuel plants that rely on water for cooling, and up to a third of these are in high water stress areas. Predicting droughts, stream flows and water availability is therefore vital for maintaining supply.