Statkraft's climate panel

Statkraft's activities have a very long-term perspective. As a result, climate change may have an impact on both operations and business opportunities. Climate change may affect energy sources through changes in precipitation, drainage and wind. Statkraft may also be impacted by changes in the political framework conditions.

In order to address the challenges associated with climate change, Statkraft established its Climate Adaptation Panel (CAP) in 2012. CAP is a multidiscipline team with the objective of ensuring a consistent understanding of climate change and how this may affect Statkraft's business.

"We've assessed various emissions scenarios and contributed to assessments of countries that are expected to become drier, amongst other things," says Tormod Schei, who chairs the internal panel.

Schei has also contributed to the UN climate panel, and was the coordinating lead author on a chapter in the special report on renewable energy.

Statkraft's climate panel will assess global emissions scenarios, which then will form the basis for Statkraft’s planning and operations. The team will also study how global climate models can be broken down into regional and local geographies, and how they may affect hydro and wind power generation. The UN climate panel’s review of the scientific basis is at the core of this work.

"Some places, climate change will cause more water, in other places less. Statkraft contributes to mitigating the effects of climate change by using its own facilities where possible and practical, such as for flood control. In dry countries, the facilities can be used for irrigation and water supply," Schei explains.