PNAS: Warming Likely To Stress Electrical Grid Far More Than Recognized

[hatrack]

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Peak electricity demand increases more than average electricity demand, they found. Under a modest warming scenario, there will be a 2.8 percent increase in average electricity demand across all regions of the US, and a 3.5 percent increase in peak demand. That’s important because electrical grids aren’t built for average power needs. They’re designed to be able to deliver reliable power at times of highest demand.

In the modest warming scenario, the number of days above the current 95th and 99th percentile of energy demand will increase by 153 percent and 389 percent respectively. “That is, levels of demand that are currently considered unusually high will become much more common, even absent changes in population or income,” the researchers write.

To meet these needs, utilities would have to invest in more generating capacity—to the tune of $70 billion under a moderate climate change scenario or $180 billion under a more extreme one, according to the study.

The increases in peak electricity demand due to climate change will be greatest in the southern US. In contrast, peak demand could actually decrease in the Northwest, due to fewer cold days and consequent lower power needs for heating. Such results suggest that different regions of the country will need different climate change adaptation strategies.

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http://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2017/02/america-may-not-have-the-power-to-deal-with-future-hot-days/

[Dustlawyer]

1. Our whole grid needs to be over-hauled to accomidate much more solar and wind

generation by homes and businesses. While the battery technology continues to improve, it is still necessary for some to rely on the grid for power at night, and most to be able to sell excess power back.

The price of renewable electricity has reached the same or even less than the costs associated with fossil fuel generation. But for the stalling tactics used by oil interests through their bought and paid for politicians and Lobbyists, we would already be self sustaining on renewables alone.

Yet another reason to get the money out of politics, it is the root problem to most of the problems we have!

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. More here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1127108109