The Climate and Energy Systems project final conference
The final conference of the CES project "Future Climate and Renewable Energy - Impacts, Risks and Adaptation" was held in Oslo from 31 May to 2 June. The conference was organised around five themes:
- Past and present changes in climate and hydrology
- Climate and hydrological projections for the near future (2020-2050)
- Effects of a changing climate and hydrology on renewable energy
- Risks and opportunities for renewable energy caused by climate change
- Adaptation strategies
Stake-holders from the energy sector and researchers from meteorological, hydrological and many other research institutes in the Nordic and Baltic countries met to exchange views and acquire information about current research of climate changes and energy issues. Altogether 31 oral presentations and 21 posters were presented at the conference, including 5 keynote presentations given by invited speakers from leading research institutes on climate and energy issues. The extended abstract volume of the presentations is available (pdf 5.2 Mb).
Substantial changes have taken place in the climate of the Nordic countries in the last 20-30 years and changes on the same order of magnitude are expected until the middle of the 21st century. It was clear from many presentations at the conference that energy companies have already taken recent changes in climate and the consequent changes in hydrology into account in their operations. The companies are expecting further changes in the future and these future changes are considered along with many other uncertainties in the design and operational plans for new installations. Substantial changes in the operational environment of the energy industry are also expected due to indirect effects of climate change, such as international agreements to curtail CO2 emissions and a changed role of hydro-power in the energy system as wind power and other new energy sources become more important in the production of energy.
The conference was a successful event with many interesting presentations and opportunities to meet colleagues and discuss the exiting developments that are taking place in the natural and societal environment of the energy industry.
