Power grids with high renewable penetration show reduced blackout intensity
A study published in Nature Energy offers insights into the reliability of power grids powered largely by weather-dependent renewable energy sources (WD-RESs) like wind and solar. The research analyzes U.S. blackout data from 2001 to 2020, revealing that grids with higher WD-RES penetration experienced blackouts of lower intensity. This is significant for nations aiming to shift their grids towards renewables to meet climate goals, as the findings challenge the perception that WD-RESs weaken grid stability.
“Some have claimed that unstable RESs are responsible for increasing power grid unreliability under extreme climate conditions,” said Dr. Jin Zhao, Assistant Professor at Trinity College Dublin and lead author of the study, “whereas others have argued that wind and solar generation tend to be available even during extreme weather.”
Zhao and his team found that grids with high WD-RES penetration did not experience higher blackout vulnerability. Instead, when blackouts did occur, the number of customers impacted, duration, and demand loss were lower.
While extreme weather remains a significant risk factor for power systems, Zhao’s research found no link between high WD-RES penetration and increased weather-induced blackout risk.
This research has significant implications for nations like Ireland, where renewable energy sources accounted for 38.9% of electricity in 2023 and are expected to reach over 70% by 2030.
Zhao remarked: “The major take-home message here is that WD-RESs are not the main culprit for blackouts during extreme weather events.”
Journal Reference:
‘Weather-sensitive renewable energy sources do not subject power systems to blackouts’, Nature Energy (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41560-024-01657-w
Zhao, J., Li, F. & Zhang, Q. ‘Impacts of renewable energy resources on the weather vulnerability of power systems’, Nature Energy (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41560-024-01652-1
Article Source:
Press Release/Material by Trinity College Dublin
Asset owners move toward climate-responsive investment strategies
A new study from Yale School of the Environment highlights the evolving investment strategies of asset owners, such as pension funds and foundations, in response to climate change.
Led by Emil Moldovan, MESc candidate, the study emphasizes that these financial stakeholders increasingly consider the environmental impacts of their portfolios, aligning investment goals with global climate targets.
Published in NPJ Climate Action, the research notes that while asset owners are making progress, perceived risks, limited climate sector expertise, and balancing financial goals remain challenging.
Moldovan’s team conducted over 60 interviews with asset owners and managers, representing more than $750 billion in assets, examining how factors such as legal responsibilities, fiduciary duties, and stakeholder expectations influence climate-related investment decisions.
The study also employed the “Four Stages of Organizational Change” framework to analyze how asset owners perceive, evaluate, and enact climate investment strategies. Moldovan explained: “There are a lot of bottlenecks to climate action (…) but the one I am focusing on is money and institutions that manage money.”
Co-author Todd Cort, a lecturer at Yale, noted that this research uniquely considers asset owners’ roles as individuals with varied priorities impacting climate investing. The study finds that both regulatory flexibility and stakeholder demand are encouraging investors to focus more on climate-responsive portfolios, though significant challenges persist.
Journal Reference:
Moldovan, E., Cort, T., Goldberg, M. et al. ‘The evolving climate change investing strategies of asset owners’, npj Climate Action 3, 82 (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s44168-024-00168-4
Article Source:
Press Release/Material by Yale University
Corporate environmental disclosures improve with external verification
A doctoral study by Probal Dutta at the University of Vaasa suggests that companies can build public trust by transparently disclosing their environmental impact and verifying these reports through external audits.
This research, based on statistical analyses of Finnish companies, found that businesses with verified environmental data often disclosed more information and demonstrated better environmental performance. Dutta’s findings are timely, given increasing demands on corporations to mitigate climate impacts and support biodiversity preservation.
Dutta’s research, to be defended as a dissertation on November 8, 2024, found that even companies with weaker environmental records are increasingly pursuing independent verification, especially for disclosures about carbon emissions.
He explained: “Companies, irrespective of their performance in terms of their impact on the natural environment, are found to be disclosing environment-related information that is verified by independent verifiers.” Verification not only boosts credibility but is associated with a higher volume of reported environmental actions, particularly for carbon assurance.
The study’s findings are valuable for policymakers, eco-conscious investors, and regulators. Policymakers may develop new disclosure standards based on these insights, while investors and regulators can use them to enhance transparency in environmental reporting.
Publication:
Probal Dutta, ‘Essays on Corporate Environmental Performance and Reporting’, Acta Wasaensia 541 (2024). URN: ISBN:978-952-395-160-0
Article Source:
Press Release/Material by University of Vaasa
Featured image credit: Gerd Altmann | Pixabay
