Climate change impacts on renewable energy sources

Renewable energy systems – especially wind and solar – are directly influenced by climate variability and change. This paper examines the challenge of predicting future climate conditions and turning those projections into actionable insights for energy planning and operations. It also highlights the need for expert knowledge, transparent assumptions, and strong risk management to use climate data effectively for investment and reliability decisions.

Request a copy

First name

Last name

Company name

Job title

Country

By completing this form, I confirm that I have read the privacy statement and understood and accept the terms of use.

I would like to receive informational emails with related content in the future from DNV, for example but not limited to invitations to webinars, seminars, newsletters, or access to research that DNV thinks is relevant to me. I can unsubscribe or change my email preferences at any time using the links in the footer of the emails I receive from DNV.

In this white paper, DNV examines how climate variability and climate change are reshaping the risk landscape for renewable energy systems. As wind and solar play an increasingly central role in decarbonization, these assets are also becoming more exposed to changing climate conditions that affect resource availability, operational performance, infrastructure resilience, and long-term financial outcomes.

The paper explores the challenges of predicting future climate conditions and translating climate projections into actionable insights for the renewable energy sector. It provides an overview of the fundamentals of climate modelling, including key concepts, assumptions, and limitations, with particular focus on the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) and Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). While climate projections are essential for long-term planning and risk management, the paper highlights the importance of explicitly addressing uncertainty and avoiding overconfidence in model outputs.

Through a series of case studies on solar and wind resources, the paper demonstrates how climate data can be applied to assess potential impacts under different emissions scenarios.

The paper outlines:

Why climate change introduces new uncertainties and risks for wind and solar energy projects.
How challenges in climate prediction affect long-term planning, investment, and operational decisions.
An overview of key climate modelling frameworks, including CMIP and SSPs, and their relevance to the energy sector.
Case studies demonstrating how climate data can inform assessments of future solar and wind resource availability.
The importance of transparent assumptions, diverse modelling approaches, and sector-specific expertise for climate-informed decision-making.

Download the white paper to learn more about how climate data can be harnessed to future-proof renewable energy investments amid a changing climate.

How can DNV help you understand and mitigate climate change impacts on renewable energy assets?

We can help via the following: