Press release
ComEd, Argonne Climate Study Projects More Heat, Humidity As a Result of Climate Change, Outlines Impact on Power Grid
First of its Kind Regional Study Recommends Adaptations to Protect Grid Reliability, Resiliency CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ComEd, in partnership with the
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[{"type":"text","content":"\nFirst of its Kind Regional Study Recommends Adaptations to Protect Grid Reliability, Resiliency\n\n CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nComEd, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory’s Center for Climate Resilience and Decision Science, today released the first phase of a comprehensive Climate Risk and Adaptation Study as part of ComEd’s long-term effort to understand the impacts of climate change to its power grid and operations and begin to devise strategies to adapt in northern Illinois. The study is the first of its kind in the region.\n\n“Severe and destructive weather caused by climate change is already impacting our area, and this study gives us a preview of what’s to come – including warmer, more humid conditions that will pose new challenges to the power grid,” said ComEd CEO Gil Quiniones. “Our customers today enjoy record-setting reliability at one of the lowest rates in America; using this localized climate data, we can plan the grid investments necessary to ensure we continue to deliver reliable, resilient energy to our customers, even as the grid must handle more severe weather and increased demand due to decarbonization.”\n\nElectric delivery companies like ComEd need to manage the combined effects of climate-driven weather; changing grid uses through the electrification of transportation, buildings, and industry loads; and the growth of intermittent renewable and distributed generation. In collaboration with another ComEd-commissioned study on pathways to decarbonization in Illinois, Argonne has taken the first step toward a combined analysis of climate change mitigation and adaptation.\n\nSpecifically, Argonne’s analysis shows that projected mid-century climate conditions for ComEd’s northern Illinois service territory are likely to be substantially warmer during all seasons and more humid than historical conditions. In particular, the area will experience more intense and prolonged heatwaves in summer months, which will be amplified by higher humidity. Measures of seasonal energy demand point to growth in demand for cooling, or air conditioner use, particularly during summer, late spring and early fall. In planning for future demand and resilience, the study also highlights the importance of accounting for the combined effects of climate change and electrification. Electr...