Our Changing Climate and
Adaptation
September 22, 2010
WPUI Mission
Advance understanding of public policy issues in the
electric and gas industries.
In Achieving this mission:
 We provide information and education programs in
addition to other services that aid in the examination and
development of appropriate public policies.
 Our programs and services communicate the diversity of
views that exist on current policy issues, particularly the
leading-edge issues that will affect the future of those
industries and the customers they serve.
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The Wisconsin Idea In Action
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Provide access to the resources of the University to meet
the need for information outside of the University’s
boundary.
We provide forums for discussion, dialog, and debate on
public policy issues.
Climate Science Basics and Options
We won’t concern ourselves
with the causes or mitigation
today
Projected Changes

Projected changes in our climate may affect the energy
industry. This program is designed to explore this idea.

We will look at
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Air temperature
Water temperature
Land use
Extreme weather events
Other impacts?
WICCI: A Conversation Between
Researchers and Industry
WICCI Research
• Air temperature projections
• Precipitation projections
• Land change projections
Climate
research
that is
useful to
the utility
industry
Weather/climate impacts
on utilities
• Heating and cooling loads
• Thermal efficiency of power
plants’ cooling water
• Extreme weather impacts on grid
Transformers
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84% of loss of life (LOL) occurs in the daytime
Transformers and lines need to “cool”
Higher ambient temperatures = significant loss of life
To retain typical 40 year transformer life need to
increase design robustness

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More iron and copper, better cooling
Higher cost / kVA
1999 Heat Storm: The Problem
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Effects on dynamic reactive capability
2,000 MVAR were not available on operating units
High transfers, cheaper to bring in power rather than
generate
Summer 1999
The Response
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Verification of reactive capability now required
Reporting of reactive capability changes
Heavy Load Voltage Schedule
More generators on line
Caps on-line including distribution caps