Research group receives federal climate change funding to help plan and design more resilient electricity systems

A McMaster University research group focused on weatherproofing critical infrastructure has received funding from Natural Resources Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Program.

The federal program has invested $721,740 in a project led by Paulin Coulibaly, director of the McMaster Water Resources and Hydrologic Modelling Lab and Professor of Hydrology with the Department of Civil Engineering and the School of Earth, Environment & Society.

The lab’s project – which will develop guidelines for integrating climate data in electricity system planning and design – is also supported by Ontario Power Generation, Hydro-Quebec, Manitoba Hydro, BC-Hydro, Hydro One and the Independent Electricity System Operator. The lab’s industry partners have contributed an additional $170,000 plus in-kind contributions valued at $486,7000.

Paulin’s lab has carried out climate change impact studies since 2002. Those studies have identified best approaches and strategies for adapting to climate change in the water and hydropower sectors.

These sectors are highly vulnerable to extreme weather events driven by climate change, says Paulin, the Science Research Chair in Hydroclimatic Modelling who also serves as director of FloodNet – a national multi-disciplinary research network based at McMaster. Droughts and floods can compromise the production of electricity while heavy rain, snow, floods and fires can disrupt transmission.

Integrating climate data and knowledge into the planning and design of more resilient electricity systems can mitigate those climate change risks.

“The need for integrating that data and knowledge can’t be overstated. The electricity system is critical infrastructure in our communities yet it’s highly vulnerable to climate change. This is a global challenge and not just a problem for Canada.”

Meeting that challenge requires close collaboration among academia, utilities and government, says Paulin. “It’s incredibly challenging and complex work.”

Government and industry funding will allow Paulin’s research group to produce a series of reports supported by workshops, decision guides and job aids for Canada’s electricity sector.

The McMaster project is one of nine in southern Ontario to receive a total of $4.5 million through Natural Resources Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Program. The projects aim to enhance knowledge and skills among professionals, businesses and communities in southern Ontario and across Canada to adapt to a changing climate, through the development and delivery of tools, resources and training.

“The impacts associated with climate change — including intense wildfires, devastating floods, stronger tropical storms and hurricanes, and permafrost thaw in the north — are being felt environmentally and economically in every single region of Canada,” said the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources in announcing the federal funding on Jan. 23.

 “That is why this federal government is acting now to help our communities and our economy prepare for and protect against the threat of climate change. Today’s announcement of nine projects based in southern Ontario supports vital, community-based work to keep people safe now and into the future.”