Fire and ice: A method to assess climate change on peak demand

Journal Article · Tue Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 1992 · Public Utilities Fortnightly; (United States)

OSTI ID:6636467

Ritsema, M A

Assuming a business-as-usual pattern of carbon dioxide emissions, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 1990 predicted the mean temperature for Central North America in the summer months likely would rise three to five degrees by 2030. In its advance plan process completed in September, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission addressed the issue of enhanced global warming as it involves the type of power production facilities to meet demand for energy in the next 20 years. While the emphasis was on the need to select technologies that minimized the level of greenhouse gases emitted into the air, an analysis in the plan addressed forecasting concerns stemming from the prospect of enhanced global warming. While the analysis concentrates on estimating the effect of climate change on annual peak demand for electric utilities, the method could be modified to estimate the effect on energy as well. This information then could be used to estimate the effect of climate change on load factor and, to some extent, the shape of the load curve for energy utilities. Such an analysis would be beneficial in assessing the need for additional power-producing facilities.

• OSTI ID: 6636467
• Journal Information: Public Utilities Fortnightly; (United States), Vol. 130:12; ISSN 0033-3808
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
PEAK LOAD
GREENHOUSE GASES
EMISSION
CLIMATES
FORECASTING
LOAD ANALYSIS
POWER DEMAND
DEMAND
PUBLIC UTILITIES
290301* - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety- Regional & Global Environmental Aspects- (1992-)
292000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Supply
Demand & Forecasting