Yet, as the push for renewables gains momentum\u2014fueled by falling costs and the urgent need to phase out oil, gas, and coal\u2014experts are warning that climate change, largely caused by decades of fossil fuel combustion, is now increasingly shaping\u2014and in some cases, threatening\u2014the way clean energy is produced.<\/p>\n
This trend became more pronounced in 2023, marked by a volatility that disrupted renewable energy<\/a> generation globally. Temperatures soared 1.45\u00b0C above pre-industrial levels, and the shift from\u00a0La Ni\u00f1a to El Ni\u00f1o<\/a>\u00a0altered rainfall, wind patterns, and solar radiation.<\/p>\n Hamid Bastani, a climate and energy expert with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO<\/a>), provided a stark example of this impact. \u201cIn Sudan and Namibia, hydropower output dropped by more than 50 per cent due to unusually low rainfall,\u201d he said in an interview with UN News.<\/p>\n In Sudan, rainfall totaled just 100 millimeters (less than four inches) in 2023\u2014less than half the national long-term average.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a country where hydropower makes up around 60 per cent of the electricity mix. These reductions could have significant implications,\u201d Mr. Bastani explained, noting that the power system supports a large and rapidly growing population of about 48 million.<\/p>\n These shifts were not limited to hydropower. Wind energy, too, showed signs of stress under changing climate<\/a> conditions.<\/p>\n China, which accounts for 40 per cent of global onshore wind capacity<\/a>, saw only a modest 4 to 8 per cent increase in output in 2023, as wind anomalies disrupted generation. In India, production declined amid weaker monsoon winds, while some regions in Africa<\/a> experienced even sharper losses, with wind output falling by as much as 20 to 30 per cent.<\/p>\n South America, meanwhile, saw the scale tip in the other direction. Clear skies and elevated solar radiation boosted solar panel<\/a> performance, particularly in countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Bolivia.<\/p>\n As such, the region saw a four to six per cent increase in solar generation \u2013 a climate-driven bump that translated to roughly three terawatt-hours of additional electricity, enough to power over two million homes for a year<\/a> at average consumption rates.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a good example of how climate variability can sometimes create opportunity,\u201d explains Roberta Boscolo, who leads WMO\u2019s New York Office and formerly the agency\u2019s climate and energy<\/a> work. \u201cIn Europe, too, we are seeing more days with high solar radiation, meaning solar power is becoming more efficient over time.\u201d<\/p>\n Ms. Boscolo and Mr. Bastani are among the contributors to a recent\u00a0WMO\u2013IRENA\u00a0<\/a>study examining how climate conditions in 2023, shaped by El Ni\u00f1o, global warming, and regional extremes, affected both renewable energy generation and energy demand worldwide.<\/p>\n Contents<\/p> Ms. Boscolo, who has spent years working at the intersection of climate science and energy policy<\/a>, is quick to point out the vulnerability of renewable energy infrastructure. Dams, solar farms, and wind turbines are all designed based on past climate patterns, making them susceptible to the changing climate<\/a>.<\/p>\n Take hydropower. Dams rely on predictable seasonal flows, often fed by snowmelt or glacial runoff. \u201cThere will be a short-term boost in hydropower as glaciers melt,\u201d she said. \u201cBut once those glaciers are gone, so is the water. And that is irreversible \u2013 at least on human timescales.\u201d<\/p>\n This pattern is already unfolding in regions\u00a0like the Andes and the Himalayas<\/a>. If the meltwater disappears, countries will need to replace the way they generate power or face long-term energy deficits.<\/p>\n A\u00a0recent report<\/a>\u00a0from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP<\/a>), for example, pointed out that rising sea levels and stronger storms pose growing risks to energy production facilities, including solar farms located near coastlines.<\/p>\n Similarly, increasingly intense and frequent wildfires can also take down power lines and black out entire regions, while extreme heat can reduce the efficiency of solar panels and strain grid infrastructure\u2014just as demand for cooling peaks.<\/p>\n Nuclear power plants are also at risk in the changing climate<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have seen nuclear power plants that could not operate because of the lack of water… for cooling,\u201d Ms. Boscolo said. As heatwaves become more frequent and river levels drop, some older nuclear facilities may no longer be viable in their current locations.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is another thing that should be looked at with different eyes in the future . When we design, when we build, when we project power generation infrastructure, we really need to think about what the climate<\/a> of the future will be, not what was the climate of the past\u201d.<\/p>\n The expert underscores that one thing is certain: Our planet is heading towards a future in which electricity, especially from renewable sources, will be central.<\/p>\n \u201cOur transport is going to be electric; our cooking is going to be electric; our heating is going to be electric. So, if we do not have a reliable electricity system, everything is going to collapse. We will need to have this climate intelligence when we think about how to change<\/a> our energy systems and the reliability and the resilience of our energy system in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Indeed, to adapt, both experts emphasized a need to embrace what they call\u00a0climate intelligence\u00a0\u2013<\/a> the integration of climate forecasts, data, and science into every level of energy planning.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the past, energy planners worked with historical averages,\u201d Mr. Bastani explained. \u201cBut the past is no longer a reliable guide. We need to know what the wind will be doing next season, what rainfall will look like next year \u2013 not just what it looked like a decade ago.\u201d<\/p>\n In Chile, for instance, hydropower generation surged by as much as 80 per cent in November 2023, due to unusually high rainfall. While this increase was climate-driven, experts say<\/a> advanced seasonal forecasting could help dam operators better anticipate such events in the future and manage reservoirs to store water more effectively.<\/p>\n Similarly, wind farm workers can use forecasts to schedule maintenance during low-wind periods \u2013 minimizing downtime and avoiding losses. Grid operators, too, can plan for energy spikes during heatwaves or droughts.<\/p>\n \u201cWe now have forecasts that span from a few seconds ahead to several months,\u201d Mr. Bastani said. \u201cEach one has a specific application \u2013 from immediate grid balancing to long-term investment decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n Artificial intelligence<\/a> (AI) is lending a hand: Machine learning models trained on climate and energy data can now predict resource fluctuations with higher resolution and accuracy. These tools could help optimize when to deploy battery storage or shift energy between regions, making the system more flexible and responsive.<\/p>\n \u201cThese models can help operators better anticipate fluctuations in wind, rainfall, or solar radiation\u201d, Mr. Bastain explained.<\/p>\n For example,\u00a0two recent WMO energy mini projects<\/a>\u00a0illustrated how artificial intelligence can be applied in real-world renewable energy planning. In Costa Rica, the agency worked with national energy authorities to develop<\/a> and implement an AI-based model for short-term wind speed forecasting. The tool is now integrated into the Costa Rican Electricity Institute\u2019s internal energy forecasting platform, helping optimize operations at selected wind farms.<\/p>\n In Chile, another project focused<\/a> on floating solar technology, using AI to estimate evaporation rates on reservoirs. The results, now incorporated into Chile\u2019s official Solar Energy<\/a> Explorer platform, showed that floating solar panels can reduce water evaporation by up to 85 per cent in summer, with a national average of 77 per cent.<\/p>\n Indeed, the promise and challenge of climate-smart renewable planning are most evident in the Global South<\/a>. Africa, for instance, boasts some of the best solar potential on the planet, yet only two per cent of the world’s installed renewable capacity is found on the continent.<\/p>\n Why the gap? Ms. Boscolo points to a lack of data and investment.<\/p>\n \u201cIn many parts of the Global South, there just is not enough observational data to create accurate forecasts or make energy projects<\/a> bankable,\u201d she said. \u201cInvestors need to see reliable long-term projections. Without that, the risk is too high.\u201d<\/p>\n WMO is working to improve weather and energy monitoring<\/a> in underserved regions, but progress is uneven. The agency is calling for more funding<\/a> for local data networks, cross-border energy planning, and climate services tailored to regional needs.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not just about climate<\/a> mitigation,\u201d Ms. Boscolo added. \u201cIt is a development opportunity<\/a>. Renewable energy can bring electricity to communities<\/a>, drive industrial growth, and create jobs if the systems are designed right.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr. Bastani sees a need for global data<\/a> sharing between energy companies and climate scientists.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a huge untapped potential in the data collected by the private sector..<\/a>. integrating historical and real-time observations from power plants \u2013 solar, wind, hydropower, even nuclear \u2013 can significantly improve weather and climate models<\/a>. This is a win-win.\u201d<\/p>\n Another key action to guarantee clean energy<\/a> in the near future is diversification. Relying too heavily on only one renewable source can expose countries to seasonal or long-term shifts in climate, Mr. Bastani explains.<\/p>\n In Europe, for example, energy planners are increasingly concerned about something called\u00a0\u201cdunkelflaute\u201d<\/em>\u2014 a period of cloudy, windless weather in winter that undermines both solar power and wind generation. This phenomenon, linked to high-pressure systems known as anticyclonic gloom, has prompted calls for more energy storage and backup power.<\/p>\n \u201cA diversified mix that includes solar, wind, hydro, battery storage, and even low-carbon sources (like geothermal) is essential,\u201d Mr. Bastani said. \u201cEspecially as extreme weather<\/a> becomes more frequent.\u201d<\/p>\n As the world races towards a future powered by renewable energy, addressing the challenges posed by climate change<\/a> is imperative. The volatility experienced in 2023 underscores the need for climate-smart planning and infrastructure that can withstand unpredictable shifts in weather patterns.<\/p>\n For renewable energy to truly fulfill its promise, the world must invest not only in expanding capacity but also in building<\/a> a system that is resilient, adaptable, and informed by the best available climate science.<\/p>\n WMO experts Hamid Bastani and Roberta Boscolo emphasize the importance of integrating climate<\/a> intelligence into energy systems to ensure their reliability and resilience. By leveraging advanced forecasting and artificial intelligence, we can better anticipate and adapt to these changes<\/a>, optimizing renewable energy production and safeguarding our future.<\/p>\n The future of energy is not just about more wind turbines and solar panels, but also about ensuring they can withstand the very forces they are meant to mitigate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The race toward renewable energy is accelerating. And for all the looming challenges of the climate crisis, signs of progress are clear: Solar panels are beginning to blanket deserts, wind turbines dot coastlines, and hydropower dams are harnessing powerful rivers to generate electricity without the carbon pollution that has made fossil fuels the single largest […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10602,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10955","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10955"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10955\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10960,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10955\/revisions\/10960"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Solar](\"https:\/\/global.unitednations.entermediadb.net\/assets\/mediadb\/services\/module\/asset\/downloads\/preset\/Collections\/Embargoed\/28-07-2021-ADB-Thailand-solar-farm.jpg\/image1440x560cropped.jpg\" "\\"Solar")
<\/div>\nSystems built on stability, in a world that is anything but<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>
![\"Global](\"https:\/\/global.unitednations.entermediadb.net\/assets\/mediadb\/services\/module\/asset\/downloads\/preset\/Collections\/Embargoed\/14-07-2021_IMF_electric-car.jpg\/image1440x560cropped.jpg\" "\\"Global")
<\/div>\nAdapting to the future through data, AI and technology<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Improved](\"https:\/\/global.unitednations.entermediadb.net\/assets\/mediadb\/services\/module\/asset\/downloads\/preset\/Libraries\/Production%20Library\/08-07-2021_WMO_Croatia.jpg\/image1440x560cropped.jpg\" "\\"Improved")
<\/div>\n![\"Climate](\"https:\/\/global.unitednations.entermediadb.net\/assets\/mediadb\/services\/module\/asset\/downloads\/preset\/Libraries\/Production%20Library\/11-10-2022-IMF-Solar-Panels-Philippines.jpg\/image1440x560cropped.jpg\" "\\"Climate")
<\/div>\nDiversifying the energy portfolio to adapt<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Into the future<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n