Climate change impacts on the energy system: a model comparison

Increasing renewable energy use is an essential strategy for mitigating climate change. Nevertheless, the sensitivity of renewable energy to climatic conditions means that the energy system's vulnerability to climate change can also become larger. In this research, we used two integrated assessment models and data from four climate models to analyse climate change impacts on primary energy use at a global and regional scale under a low-level (RCP2.6) and a medium-level (RCP6.0) climate change scenario. The impacts are analysed on the energy system focusing on four renewable sources (wind, solar, hydropower, and biomass). 

Globally, small climate impacts on renewable primary energy use are found in both models (5% for RCP2.6 and 6% for RCP6.0). These impacts lead to a decrease in the use of fossil sources for most regions, especially for North America and Europe under the RCP60 scenario. Overall, IMAGE and GCAM provide a similar signal impact response for most regions. E.g. in Asia (excluding China and India), climate change induces an increase in wind and hydropower use under the RCP6.0 scenarios; however, for India, a decrease in solar energy use can be expected under both scenarios and models.

Authors

PBL Authors
David Gernaat Detlef van Vuuren
Other authors
Victhalia Zapata
Seleshi G Yalew
Silvia R Santos da Silva
Gokul Iyer
Mohamad Hejazi

Specifications

Publication title
Climate change impacts on the energy system: a model comparison
Publication date
28 February 2022
Publication type
Article
Publication language
English
Magazine
Environmental Research Letters
Issue
Volume 17, Number 3
Product number
4919