Enhancing resilience: Climate-proofing power infrastructure

Mitigation has dominated global climate discussions in recent years, yet the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events have begun to shift the focus of such discussions toward adaptation. At successive COP meetings, increasing emphasis has been placed climate-related loss and damage, as well as mobilisation of private finance for adaptation and resilience. Despite the progress that has been made, further action is needed to increase resilience in the face of climate events, especially for least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS).

The need to address the impacts of extreme weather events and climate change grows more urgent as reliance on power systems increases. According to IRENA’s 1.5°C Scenario, electricity will account for over 52% of total final energy consumption by 2050, while its share in 2022 was 23%. Power systems must, therefore, be made climate resilient. With the growing role of renewables in in the power sector, storage technologies must also be considered – as enablers and enhancers of power system resilience.

This report highlights the importance of enhancing power system resilience to climate change and extreme weather events, and provides guidance and recommendations for policymakers to develop frameworks to this end. It examines the impacts that extreme events can have on power systems; reviews the vulnerabilities of their components; and offers proactive strategies and solutions to enable enhanced resilience, drawing on examples from around the world.