Clean Energy Resilience: Climate Change Spurs Climate Tech Innovation
"The whole tropical Atlantic is warmer than it's ever been for this time of year…It's sitting at temperatures normally not seen until mid-August…the Caribbean is going crazy."
That’s the way Brian McNoldy, a senior research associate studying hurricanes at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School, put it to USA Today when asked how the board has been set for this year’s hurricane season which starts each year on June 1.
According to NOAA’s preseason forecast for this year’s hurricane season, the North Atlantic could see upwards of 17 to 25 named storms, with between eight and 13 hurricanes, and a range of four to seven major hurricanes over the course of the season which ends November 30. That makes this the highest number of named storms NOAA has ever listed in its preseason forecast.
The reason for yet another record-breaking forecast
Ample warm water is what fuels hurricane growth and development and suffice to say, we have that in spades for this year’s hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin. What’s notable this year is the presence of record shattering sea surface temperatures coupled with a La Nina setup that is quite favorable for tropical system development. Although not guaranteed to be a “bad season” depending on where storms develop and track (hitting land or getting flung far out to sea and largely out of harm’s way), with this unprecedented heating across the Gulf of Mexico and southern Atlantic, the right ingredients are in place for it to be a very active hurricane season ahead.
Climate change adaptation means building resilience
With climate change fueling more frequent and intense hurricanes, the need for resilient clean energy infrastructure has never been more pressing. In this era of an escalating climate crisis, the imperative to transition towards clean energy sources should be clear, though as has been shown in even the most at risk areas prone to hurricanes like Florida, the state government there has been less than proactive in tackling the issue – and local broadcast meteorologists like Steve McLaughlin have taken to their platforms to call out the state’s frustrating, head in the sand stance on climate change.
Hurricanes are notorious for their destructive potential, leaving behind a trail of devastation in their wake. From flooded streets to toppled power lines, the aftermath of these storms is often characterized by widespread power outages and infrastructure damage. In such turbulent times, the importance of clean energy resilience cannot be overstated.
So, what exactly is clean energy resilience, and why does it matter?
Why clean energy is inherently more resilient
Clean energy resilience refers to the ability of a community or region to maintain a reliable and sustainable energy supply even in the face of extreme weather events like hurricanes. Unlike traditional fossil fuel-dependent systems, clean energy infrastructure is inherently more resilient. Here's why:
Distributed Energy Systems: Clean energy technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage systems can be deployed in a distributed manner, reducing reliance on centralized power plants and vulnerable transmission lines. This decentralized approach enhances resilience by ensuring that energy generation is more dispersed, minimizing the impact of localized disruptions. Our team’s work with Mainspring, a company pioneering a new kind of generator to phase out diesel power and provide a viable alternative to energy storage, recently made news for partnering with shipping leader Maersk and logistics leader Prologis in the creation of the nation’s largest EV truck fleet charging depot at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach which can charge up to 90 vehicles simultaneously. The Mainspring linear generator is the backbone of this setup, enabling this charging depot to function as a self-sufficient microgrid and work around the constraints of electric grid buildout.
Off-Grid Solutions: Off-grid clean energy systems, equipped with solar panels and batteries, empower communities to remain self-sufficient during power outages. By disconnecting from the main grid, these systems provide a reliable source of electricity, even when traditional infrastructure fails. This is particularly crucial in remote or disaster-prone areas where restoring grid power may take days or even weeks. These challenges are also relevant for urban areas which demand energy resilience via off-grid solutions. Our team worked with a developer to deploy a 2.5 MW microgrid solar project for Gallaudet University, an installation which is helping to provide energy resiliency when needed (i.e. a severe weather event for the region) via a distributed energy system not just for the campus but also for the neighborhoods surrounding the university in Northeast Washington, D.C.
Climate Adaptation: Investing in clean energy infrastructure is a proactive step towards climate adaptation. By mitigating carbon emissions and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, we can help mitigate the impacts of climate change, including the frequency and intensity of hurricanes. Clean energy solutions not only provide resilience against immediate threats but also contribute to long-term sustainability. One of the biggest contributors to emissions worldwide is concrete production – a truly ubiquitous material which is essential for infrastructure projects. The Silverline team partnered with CarbonCure to highlight the benefits of the company’s new, greener approach to concrete production which embeds CO2 within the production mix, helping to sequester the greenhouse gas while also increasing strength of the concrete being produced. This process proved less resource intensive vs. traditional concrete production and through media placements and op-ed development we helped to advance the policy case for this solution in key geographies as infrastructure projects ramped up through investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Economic Stability: The economic benefits of clean energy resilience are substantial. By minimizing downtime and avoiding costly repairs associated with storm damage, communities can save millions in recovery expenses. Moreover, investing in renewable energy creates jobs and stimulates local economies, fostering long-term prosperity. This has especially been the case in Texas as it has dealt with a number of grid stressing extreme weather events over the past several years. As the American Clean Power case study on the Summer 2023 summer heat wave explains, “By providing affordable and reliable energy generation during periods of record demand, clean power sources likely saved consumers over $1 billion in avoided electricity costs during the heatwave alone.”
As we confront the challenges posed by an increasingly volatile climate, the imperative to embrace clean energy resilience has never been clearer. By harnessing the power of renewable energy and building resilient infrastructure, we can fortify our communities against whatever Mother Nature may throw our way and innovate our way out of the climate change challenge.
