Introduction

The escalating impacts of climate change, manifested through more frequent and severe extreme weather events, pose an unprecedented threat to the reliability and security of global power grids. From devastating wildfires and prolonged heatwaves to intense hurricanes and severe winter storms, these phenomena can cause widespread outages, significant infrastructure damage, and substantial economic disruption. Traditional grid planning, often based on historical weather patterns, is no longer sufficient to address these evolving risks. Climate Resilience in Grid Planning emphasizes a forward-looking, proactive approach that integrates climate projections, vulnerability assessments, and adaptation strategies into every stage of grid development, from generation and transmission to distribution and demand-side management. This involves building stronger infrastructure, diversifying energy sources, implementing intelligent controls, and fostering adaptive operational practices to ensure continuous power supply even under increasingly volatile climatic conditions. Without a strategic focus on Climate Resilience in Grid Planning, power utilities and system operators risk increasing vulnerability, higher operational costs, and diminished public trust, underscoring the vital need for specialized expertise in this critical and rapidly evolving field. This comprehensive training course focuses on equipping professionals with the expertise to master Climate Resilience in Grid Planning.

This training course is meticulously designed to empower power utility engineers, system planners, risk managers, asset managers, policy analysts, and regulatory professionals with the theoretical understanding and practical skills necessary to effectively integrate Climate Resilience into Grid Planning. Participants will gain a deep understanding of climate science fundamentals, learn to assess the specific vulnerabilities of grid infrastructure to various climate hazards, and acquire hands-on experience in developing and implementing robust adaptation measures. The course will delve into topics such as probabilistic climate change scenarios, vulnerability mapping, grid hardening techniques, the role of distributed energy resources (DERs) and microgrids, advanced monitoring and forecasting, emergency response and recovery planning, and the financial and regulatory considerations for resilient investments. By mastering the principles and practical application of Climate Resilience in Grid Planning, participants will be prepared to enhance grid reliability, minimize disruption from climate-related events, optimize investment decisions, and contribute significantly to building robust and sustainable energy infrastructure for the future.

Duration: 10 Days

Target Audience

• Power Utility Engineers (Planning, Design, Operations)
• Power System Planners and Analysts
• Grid Resilience and Reliability Engineers
• Asset Managers (Power Utilities)
• Risk Management Professionals (Energy Sector)
• Environmental and Sustainability Managers (Utilities)
• Regulatory Affairs Specialists
• Infrastructure Development Professionals
• Consultants in Energy and Climate Adaptation
• Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinators

Objectives

• Understand the science of climate change and its specific impacts on power grid infrastructure.
• Learn the fundamental concepts of grid resilience and its differentiation from reliability.
• Acquire skills in conducting vulnerability assessments of power system assets to climate hazards.
• Comprehend techniques for integrating climate data and projections into grid planning processes.
• Explore strategies for hardening grid infrastructure against extreme weather events.
• Understand the role of distributed energy resources (DERs) and microgrids in enhancing resilience.
• Gain insights into advanced monitoring, forecasting, and early warning systems for grid operations.
• Develop a practical understanding of emergency preparedness and recovery planning for climate events.
• Learn about nature-based solutions and ecological approaches to grid resilience.
• Master cost-benefit analysis and economic justification for resilient investments.
• Acquire skills in developing robust communication and stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Understand the application of regulatory frameworks and policy incentives for climate resilience.
• Explore innovative technologies and smart grid solutions for adaptive capacity.
• Develop proficiency in creating comprehensive climate resilience roadmaps for power utilities.
• Prepare to proactively plan and adapt power grids to withstand a changing climate.

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to Climate Change Impacts on Power Grids

• Global climate change trends and projections.
• Specific climate hazards affecting power grids: extreme heat, wildfires, floods, storms, sea-level rise.
• Case studies of major grid disruptions due to climate events.
• Understanding the difference between grid reliability and resilience.
• The economic and societal costs of grid vulnerability.

Module 2: Fundamentals of Grid Resilience and Adaptation

• Defining grid resilience: absorb, adapt, recover, transform.
• Resilience metrics and performance indicators.
• Concepts of structural, integrative, and transformative resilience.
• Proactive adaptation vs. reactive recovery.
• Benefits of a climate-resilient grid.

Module 3: Climate Data and Risk Assessment for Grid Planning

• Sources of climate data and projections (e.g., IPCC scenarios, regional models).
• Downscaling climate data for local grid impact assessment.
• Vulnerability assessment methodologies for different grid components.
• Risk mapping and identification of critical infrastructure.
• Probabilistic approaches to climate risk assessment.

Module 4: Grid Hardening and Physical Adaptation Strategies

• Reinforcing transmission and distribution lines (stronger poles, storm-resistant designs).
• Undergrounding power lines in high-risk areas.
• Elevating and flood-proofing substations and critical equipment.
• Vegetation management strategies for wildfire and storm resilience.
• Selecting climate-resilient materials and technologies.

Module 5: Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and Microgrids for Resilience

• Role of solar PV, wind, and battery storage as DERs.
• Microgrid concepts: islanding capabilities, critical load support.
• Designing resilient microgrids for communities and critical facilities (hospitals, emergency services).
• Integration of DERs for blackstart capability.
• Regulatory and operational considerations for DER integration.

Module 6: Advanced Monitoring, Forecasting, and Early Warning Systems

• Utilizing real-time data from sensors and smart grid devices.
• Advanced weather forecasting models for localized grid impacts.
• Predictive analytics for equipment failure and risk assessment.
• Implementing early warning systems for extreme weather events.
• Decision support tools for grid operators during crises.

Module 7: Operational Resilience and Emergency Response

• Developing comprehensive emergency preparedness plans.
• Incident command systems for grid disruptions.
• Resource mobilization and mutual aid agreements.
• Rapid assessment of damage and restoration strategies.
• Communication protocols during grid emergencies (internal and public).

Module 8: System Planning and Design for Climate Resilience

• Integrating climate resilience into integrated resource planning (IRP).
• Long-term transmission and distribution system planning.
• Redundancy and diversity in network topology.
• Adaptive design principles for future climate uncertainties.
• Scenario planning for different climate futures.

Module 9: Nature-Based Solutions for Grid Resilience

• Role of wetlands, forests, and green infrastructure in protecting grid assets.
• Using natural barriers for flood and storm protection.
• Ecosystem services for climate adaptation.
• Integrating ecological principles into infrastructure design.
• Co-benefits of nature-based solutions (biodiversity, air quality).

Module 10: Financial and Economic Aspects of Grid Resilience

• Cost-benefit analysis of resilience investments.
• Valuing avoided costs of outages and damages.
• Funding mechanisms for grid resilience projects (grants, bonds, rate recovery).
• Insurance and risk transfer mechanisms.
• Long-term economic benefits of a resilient grid.

Module 11: Policy, Regulatory, and Governance Frameworks

• Role of national and regional climate adaptation plans.
• Regulatory incentives for utilities to invest in resilience.
• Performance-based regulation for grid reliability and resilience.
• Stakeholder engagement in resilience planning (communities, government, industry).
• International best practices in climate-resilient grid policy.

Module 12: Cybersecurity and Digital Resilience

• Interdependencies between physical and cyber resilience.
• Protecting grid control systems from cyber threats during climate events.
• Secure communication networks for resilient operations.
• Data integrity and availability during disruptions.
• Incident response for combined physical and cyber attacks.

Module 13: Climate Resilience in Asset Management

• Integrating climate risk into asset lifecycle management.
• Predictive maintenance strategies based on climate impact data.
• Prioritizing asset upgrades and replacements for resilience.
• Supply chain resilience for critical grid components.
• Workforce training and development for climate-resilient operations.

Module 14: Case Studies and Best Practices in Grid Resilience

• Analysis of successful grid resilience projects from around the world.
• Lessons learned from major climate-related grid failures.
• Innovative approaches to resilience (e.g., undergrounding pilot projects, mobile substations).
• Collaboration between utilities, communities, and research institutions.
• Developing a tailored resilience strategy for specific grid contexts.

Module 15: Future of Grid Resilience and Emerging Technologies

• AI and machine learning for predictive resilience.
• Advanced materials and nanotechnology for infrastructure hardening.
• Quantum computing's potential for grid optimization and security.
• The role of hydrogen and long-duration storage in resilience.
• Adaptive and self-healing grid concepts.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.