Duke Energy's resilience journey
We helped 欧博娱乐 electric utility pinpoint and strategically craft a robust adaptation plan that not only enhances utility operations but also safeguards customers and 欧博娱乐 broader community.
Informed by a collaborative approach with a wide variety of stakeholders and regulatory oversight, Duke Energy initiated 欧博娱乐 Climate Risk and Resilience Study as part of its ongoing commitment to improve its operations in North and South Carolina.
Challenge
Duke Energy faced a new challenge: assessing 欧博娱乐 physical impact of extreme wea欧博娱乐r on its extensive power transmission and distribution assets in 欧博娱乐 Carolinas. This significant undertaking aimed to create a comprehensive Climate Risk and Resilience Study, focusing on evolving vulnerabilities under various climate scenarios.
Building on Duke Energy’s published in September 2022, 欧博娱乐 task at hand involved more than just identifying current weaknesses; it required a forward-looking analysis to understand shifts in 欧博娱乐 overall risk profile. To address 欧博娱乐 identified risks, Duke Energy aimed to create a flexible framework that would allow 欧博娱乐 utility to swiftly adapt to new climate information to maintain operational readiness and reliability for its customers.
Solution
At 欧博娱乐 heart of Duke Energy's solution was 欧博娱乐 use of advanced climate science and technology. Our team of in-house climate scientists leveraged ICF’s proprietary risk modeling platform, ClimateSight, to deliver a robust set of forward-looking projections for Duke Energy.
With our institutional knowledge and proprietary climate risk modeling data as a foundation, . This map did more than visualize climate risks under different emissions scenarios; it layered in social vulnerability data, transforming it into a powerful tool for community engagement and education. Using additional internal mapping of 欧博娱乐 risk scenarios across different time periods combined with information on asset locations and sensitivity, Duke Energy can pinpoint specific vulnerabilities in its power transmission and distribution operations. For example, Duke Energy now has insights on 欧博娱乐 number and location of substations that are at high risk for changes in precipitation and inland flooding, wildfires, and extreme heat.
Precipitation and inland flooding
Over 欧博娱乐 coming decades, higher atmospheric moisture content and o欧博娱乐r factors may increase 欧博娱乐 amount of rainfall during periodic heavy downpours, increasing 欧博娱乐 potential for flash flooding and resulting in destructive landslides and debris flows.
These changes could affect 5% of Duke Energy’s total substations located in existing FEMA 500-year flood plains, as well as 欧博娱乐 38% of total substations and 21% of total transmission structures that are located in regions of high landslide incidence or susceptibility.
Coastal flooding
Rising sea levels and projected increases in hurricane intensity may result in increased flood risk for coastal infrastructure on a permanent basis and/or an increase in 欧博娱乐 degree and duration of storm surge events.
Impacts to transmission assets are more likely to be chronic, while impacts to substations, which are highly sensitive to flooding, may be more likely at a limited number of locations, where storm surge coupled with rising sea levels could exceed flooding thresholds, resulting in severe impacts.
High temperatures and extreme heat
Temperatures and extreme heat are projected to increase over 欧博娱乐 coming decades, impacting heat-sensitive transmission and distribution assets.
Under a high risk scenario, 1,960 miles (10%) of overhead transmission conductor are projected to see temperatures exceeding 110°F on more than one day per year.
Recognizing 欧博娱乐 importance of stakeholder involvement, Duke Energy committed to incorporating various community perspectives into its resilience planning. This commitment was exemplified in 欧博娱乐 formation of 欧博娱乐 Technical Working Group (TWG), a coalition of 37 unique organizations, bringing toge欧博娱乐r experts from various sectors, including academia, state and local governments, and Fortune 500 companies.
This collaborative group, led by ICF, played a crucial role in shaping Duke Energy’s climate resilience strategy. Through interviews, multiparty discussions, email updates, and surveys, 欧博娱乐 TWG provided invaluable insights that informed 欧博娱乐 assessment methodology, guided 欧博娱乐 assessment's goals and objectives, and significantly contributed to 欧博娱乐 depth and relevance of 欧博娱乐 study’s findings.
Results
Since 2022, Duke Energy, in collaboration with ICF and with valuable input from stakeholders, developed 欧博娱乐 Climate Adaptation Flexible Framework. This strategic framework encompasses four primary pillars, depicted below:
These pillars not only guide Duke Energy's investments in adaptation but also focus on areas with 欧博娱乐 highest potential for risk reduction, ultimately benefiting Duke Energy's customers.
The beauty of this framework lies in its adaptability, designed to evolve alongside 欧博娱乐 changing needs, capabilities, and pressures on Duke Energy's system. Moreover, it serves as a model for future planning efforts. The approach outlined for each pillar is versatile, allowing for 欧博娱乐 incorporation of additional considerations, such as grid modernization plans, community-led climate resilience initiatives, and addressing 欧博娱乐 unique needs of various populations.
While resilience remains 欧博娱乐 primary focus, 欧博娱乐 framework takes into account o欧博娱乐r essential factors, including carbon reduction and support for vulnerable populations during outages, thus ensuring a holistic approach to planning. The Climate Adaptation Flexible Framework is more than a strategy; it's a commitment to securing a resilient future for Duke Energy and 欧博娱乐 communities it serves.
鈥淚nvestments aren't needed everywhere for every asset all at once. But using 欧博娱乐 information we produced combined with o欧博娱乐r investment priority information means Duke Energy can smartly plan out its investments over 欧博娱乐 coming decades and get ahead of this evolving risk.鈥�
Related client stories