Effect Of Climate Change In Electric Power Consumption
by Jenny C. Blogger and Outreach ExpertClimate change affects
the electricity markets through both the demand and supply of electricity. The
ever-increasingly growing consequences of climate change progressively threaten
the electricity system. Our electricity systems are very vulnerable to harsh
weather events, including extreme heat, drought, wildfires, and coastal
flooding; all of these are likely to accelerate and appear in the years ahead.
Cases that encounter
extreme heat, wildfires, coastal flooding, and drought have frequently been
occurring and costly in recent years. We have many examples right in front of
us from the recent past. The cases of extreme events in the weather cause a lot
of damage to society and the environment. And such hazardous situations are
going to come up with increased rates as there is a rapid rise in the global
temperatures and with consequential outcomes for the electricity sector. The
climate change category includes rising sea levels, changes in patterns of
precipitation, the river flows patterns, greenhouse gas concentration levels,
rising levels of the sea, and extreme air temperature.
The growing climatic risks
are going to harm our supply of electricity and major consequences for the
electricity sector.
How
Does Climate Change Occur?
Climate change occurs
due to both human and natural causes. A particular climate is said when a
geographical area has specific prevailing weather conditions. Over the course
of time, mother earth has seen and gone through immense global climatic
changes, including the ice ages, the period of dinosaurs, and the current warm
period, which we are a part of now. Many regions of the earth have also gone
through local climatic changes due to earthquakes, large storms, and eruptions
caused by volcanoes affecting the target locations. So, looking at the
patterns, we can say that climate changes have been occurring and will continue
to encounter changes. But climate change is now affecting our infrastructure
systems and a lot more. So, there needs to be some public awareness about the
risks of climate change and how it can affect the whole existence gradually.
What
Are The Impacts Of Climate Change On Electricity Consumption?
Our household and
businesses consume electricity for a lot of purposes, which include residential
heating and air conditioning, lighting, operating equipment, and cooking
also, but it affects climate change in no manner. But residential heating and air, residential heating and cooling play a major role in consuming
electricity. Most of the countries
depend on electricity for cooling and heating in residential houses.
With increasing standards of living and incomes, people are investing in air
conditioning facilities all over the world for comfort, but little did they
know they are harming the planet for the sake of their own comforts. Producing
and using the air conditioners and related equipment’s aggravates climate
change and worsen the situations.
Heatwaves are dangerous and are becoming more prevalent. So,
the need for the moment is that people find other ways to stay safe and cool,
and climate change is drastically increasing at alarming rates.
How
Do Air Conditioners And Equipment Affect?
There is an organic compound, Hydrofluorocarbon
(HFC), which is a primary refrigerant that is used in air conditioners and
refrigeration units. These HFC's are very potent greenhouse gases than CO2 and
can be leaked from any place from the air conditioning equipment's even while
manufacturing or in the installation processes, to the disposal of used and old
units. And increases challenges and threats for the future.
But there are several solutions to keep situations under
control and people safe and comfortable, along with a reduction in climatic
pressures.
What The Challenges And Opportunities Can Be?
Warmest countries may become heavier users of air
conditioning facilities over the next coming years. China and the united states
are the countries that have a high concentration of air conditioning use and
have high HFC leakage and space cooling energy use. So, this is a challenge to
control the usage of air conditioning systems across the globe.
Efficient air conditioning units can be used to lighten the
weight of the increased electric needs for power.
By using coordinated efforts on global platforms by making policies
and bringing technologies would help in order to make more efficient units with
reliable solutions for the users.
Global support and efforts would be needed to bring changes,
starting from step by step and small-scale policies that may work and prove to
be successful.
To reduce the effect on space cooling, technological
improvements may be required and help.
Changes in local infrastructure and behavior would be a major
complement to technological developments and policies.
There are several ways and strategies that can help in
reducing climate change and improve the scenario globally. Strategies can be
tailored as per the needs of different regions and countries to help them work
even better. Once the planet starts to warm, probably not everyone would need
to use air conditioning technologies.
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Created on Oct 30th 2019 02:03. Viewed 566 times.