Assessing climate risks for key infrastructure in Bangladesh

Many of the countries that face issues with energy access are also highly at risk from the impacts of climate change. Climate-related hazards threaten energy networks, causing frequent power shortages that exacerbate the impact of disasters. A stable power supply is crucial for providing early warnings about imminent hazards, for facilitating immediate responses and for aiding recovery and reconstruction.

VIDA enables users to identify and quantify risks to critical energy and other infrastructure. For example, VIDA shows that the Kaptai Dam, Bangladesh’s only hydropower plant, is at extreme risk from river flooding in the immediate future. In Wintua, the home of Vanuatu’s first community-managed solar mini-grid, VIDA shows drastic rises in the number of extreme heat days which may reduce the efficiency of the solar panels and significantly increase energy demand.

VIDA’s analysis enables users to identify potential risks, plan adaptation strategies and execute resilience-strengthening measures.