Climate Change Effects on Solar, Wind and Hydro Power Generation

Abstract

Climate change is affecting power generation globally. Increase in the ambient temperature due to the emission of greenhouse gases, caused mainly by burning of fossil fuels, is the most prominent reason for this effect. Climate change has encouraged the shift of power generation from burning of fossil fuels to more sustainable generation techniques from renewable sources such as hydro, wind and solar energy. Outcomes of climate change affect the power generation from these sources. Increase in the temperature and evaporation and decrease in the snow levels have decreased the hydropower generation in the Colorado River Basin. The maximum decrease in wind power generation, only due to the effect of increasing temperatures, in the U.S. is 0.6-1.0% by mid-century and 0.8-1.9% by end of the century. Change in solar radiation and precipitation affect the solar power generation. This paper analyzes various factors of climate change and the extent to which they impact the power generation from hydro, wind and solar energy sources.