Shreya Jaiswal | MEL Candidate | Dec 16, 2022
Mentors: Kelley Hishon, BC Hydro
Abstract
The annual average temperature in Canada has increased at roughly twice the global mean rate. The effects of widespread warming are evident in many parts of Canada and are projected to intensify in the future. These effects include more extreme heat, less extreme cold, longer growing seasons, shorter snow and ice cover seasons, earlier spring peak streamflow, thinning glaciers, thawing permafrost, and rising sea level. Canada’s electricity system is expected to be impacted as temperatures increase with climate change due to increases in demand for space cooling, decreases in demand for space heating, and a change in the frequency and intensity of peak electricity demand.
BC Hydro doesn’t just have to ensure reliable, clean, and affordable electricity, it has to meet the increasing demand, develop electrification strategies and connect remote communities to the grid. To do so, a reliable and resilient supply chain is essential. The aim of this study is to identify the climate-related risks associated with BC Hydro’s supply chains, document existing mitigation strategies, and propose future actions based on global best practices.