Climate change risk assessment study of Uganda’s electricity distribution network and development of a risk responsive strategy

Climate change risk assessment study
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Situation

Current variability and future climate change present severe challenges for electricity distribution networks. The impacts of extreme weather events and gradual climate change directly affect the business objectives of power distribution, which are to provide a reliable, safe, and efficient electricity supply to consumers.

Instructively, environmental and climate change risk assessment studies can help catalyze efforts to address associated risks as they provide a deeper understanding of the current situation—challenges, gaps, and opportunities—and baselines for planned action on fostering climate-intelligent power distribution networks and advancing environmental compliance of power distribution companies.

Umeme, the major power distribution company in Uganda, required a study to quantify and provide an evidence base for itself—and relevant stakeholders—regarding the increasing sensitivity to environment and climate change in power distribution. 

Industries
Strategy, Data & Insights
Public Policy
Implementation Services
Cities & Infrastructure
Climate Action
Electric Power & Clean Energy
Manufacturing & Consumer Goods
Engagement

Specifically, the utility wanted to quantify its business carbon footprint and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions emanating from its power distribution network—and an evaluation of the overall environmental impacts and climate related risks associated with its operations and power distribution in general. Our Climate Change Advisor led extensive data collection, surveys, analysis, and delivery of a highly consultative and detailed climate change risk assessment for Umeme. This was the first-ever study of this kind to be prepared for the utility and Uganda in general.

The main project features were:

  • A risk assessment of Uganda’s electricity distribution infrastructure to climate change, extreme weather events, and environmental impact.
  • Assessment of GHG emissions emanating from Uganda’s electricity distribution network across all utilities and computation of Umeme-specific carbon footprint.
  • Analysis of the exposure and sensitivity of Uganda’s power distribution infrastructure to the current and future impacts of climate change and extreme weather events.
  • Formulation of options for de-carbonizing electricity distribution.
  • Elaboration of an environment and climate risk responsive strategy to guide the management of the distribution network and ensure environmental compliance.
  • Recommendations for critical actions to achieve a climate-sensitive power network and attract climate finance to decarbonize the distribution grid.
  • Mitigation plan (building on the risk-responsive strategy) for climate risk and GHG emissions to foster climate-smart and environmentally friendly power distribution chains.
  • Action plan to guide the company in minimizing its environmental impact and to become climate-smart in its operations.
Outcomes
  • Utility committed to implementing the findings and recommendations of the study to minimize climate change impacts and risks and to becoming a best-practice leader in climate change and environmental compliance within the industry and across East Africa.
  • The company’s Board adopted the Study's recommendations, and are being implemented.
  • Based on this work, Umeme—and Uganda’s Energy Supply Industry more broadly—is increasing its profile of responsiveness to environmentally and climate-sensitive power distribution.