Fortifying the grid: Odisha's climate resilience

India's eastern coastline, including the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal, is highly susceptible to extreme weather events such as cyclones and floods. Odisha, in particular, has faced numerous catastrophic events, including the devastating 1999 Super Cyclone, which resulted in nearly 10,000 fatalities and a paradigm shift in disaster management practices.

More recently, Cyclone Fani in 2019 underscored the ongoing vulnerability of coastal infrastructure, especially within the power sector. These events have highlighted the critical need for robust disaster preparedness and resilient infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The importance of power sector resilience

Extreme weather events severely affect critical infrastructure, including power systems, transportation networks, healthcare facilities, and water supply systems. The power infrastructure in coastal regions is particularly vulnerable, with damage to power plants, substations, and transmission lines leading to prolonged outages. These outages disrupt the delivery of electricity to homes, businesses, and essential services such as hospitals and emergency response units, hampering disaster response efforts and slowing recovery and rehabilitation.

Additionally, the associated heavy rains and waterlogging degrade the ability to operate and maintain the power network, increasing maintenance costs and posing long-term challenges to energy security and resilience.

Odisha's leadership in disaster preparedness

In response to these challenges, Odisha has become a leader in cyclone preparedness and management in India. The state established the first state disaster management authority in the country, and numerous innovative strategies have been developed to manage the impact of natural hazards on the power sector.

A joint study by the Government of Odisha and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), titled "Lessons from Odisha: Developing power sector resilience to extreme weather events in coastal areas" encapsulates three years of engagement between CDRI, the Government of Odisha, GRIDCO, OSDMA, OPTCL, Tata Power Distribution Companies, and the Department of Energy. This study provides a replicable methodology for enhancing power sector resilience in coastal regions.

Key findings from the study

The study identified several critical issues within Odisha's transmission and distribution (T&D) infrastructure:

• More than 30% of distribution substations are located within 20 km of the coast.
• 75% of distribution lines were commissioned more than 30 years ago.
• 80% of poles are susceptible to high wind speeds.
• Long span lengths of power lines increase their susceptibility to damage.
• Wind speed maps need to be updated to reflect extreme weather events.

Study objectives and methodology

The study aimed to explore disaster resilience strategies for the power sector, focusing on T&D infrastructure against cyclones and floods. It was conducted in two phases. Phase I focused on developing and implementing preparedness mechanisms, preventing grid collapse, assessing losses, estimating needs, and ensuring timely funding for early restoration and resilient recovery. Phase II looked at risk identification and estimation, codes, standards, regulations, technology, and innovation; developing risk-based governance and policy, capacity building, knowledge management, and financial preparedness and adaptation.

The methodology included hazard zonation and mapping, exposure assessment, vulnerability analysis, criticality assessment, and priority assessment. An indicator-based method evaluated risks to power infrastructure, using 16 asset-level indicators.

Detailed policy recommendations for enhancing power sector resilience in coastal areas

Enhance codes and standards for wind zonation

• Updating building codes and standards:

  The existing building codes and standards need to be revised to account for higher wind speeds and more frequent extreme weather events due to climate change. This includes designing T&D infrastructure to withstand increased wind pressures.

• Installing anemometers at substations:

  Installing wind speed monitoring equipment (anemometers) at substations will provide real-time data on wind conditions. This data can be integrated with meteorological data to inform infrastructure design and maintenance practices.

• Real-time data integration:

  Utilise the data from anemometers and meteorological sources to continuously update design parameters, ensuring infrastructure remains resilient against evolving climate patterns.

Improve forecasting through data access platforms

• Tracking historical disaster data:

  Establish a system to collect and analyse historical data on natural disasters, which can help identify trends and vulnerabilities in power infrastructure.

• Creating data access platforms:

  Develop platforms that provide standardised datasets on physical climate risks. These platforms should be accessible to all relevant stakeholders, including disaster management authorities and power utilities, to enhance impact-based forecasting.

• Collaborative forecasting initiatives:

  Encourage collaboration between meteorological departments, power utilities, and disaster management agencies to improve forecasting accuracy and preparedness.

Incorporate “resilience” component into policy frameworks

• Integrating resilience in policy:

  Policies across various sectors should explicitly include resilience measures. This involves embedding resilience in financing mechanisms, data management practices, and standards.

• Setting resilience standards:

  Establish resilience standards for T&D infrastructure that account for climate change impacts. These standards should be periodically reviewed and updated based on the latest scientific data and technological advancements.

• Training and capacity building:

  Develop comprehensive training programs for policymakers, regulators, and power sector practitioners to enhance their understanding of resilience and its integration into policy and practice.

Develop a cross-sectoral framework for stakeholder collaboration

• Fostering collaboration:

  Create a framework that encourages collaboration among various stakeholders, including regulators, equipment manufacturers, utility companies, and disaster management agencies.

• Joint policy development:

  Promote joint policy development initiatives that consider the insights and expertise of all relevant stakeholders, ensuring comprehensive and effective disaster resilience strategies.

• Shared disaster management practices:

  Develop shared practices and protocols for disaster management that can be uniformly adopted across sectors, enhancing overall preparedness and response.

Leverage partnerships for development

• Regional partnerships:

  Encourage partnerships among regions that face similar climatic challenges. These partnerships can facilitate the exchange of best practices and innovations in disaster resilience.

• International collaboration:

  Engage in international collaborations to access global expertise, funding, and technology for developing resilient infrastructure.

• Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs):

  Promote PPPs to leverage private sector efficiency and innovation in building and maintaining resilient power infrastructure.

Integrate risk assessments into financial planning

• Innovative insurance mechanisms:

  Develop insurance products tailored to the needs of the power sector, covering various risks associated with natural disasters. This can help utilities manage financial risks and ensure quick recovery.

• Force majeure clause considerations:

  Review and balance force majeure clauses in contracts to ensure that both public and private entities share disaster recovery responsibilities equitably.

• Financial preparedness:

  Ensure that risk assessments are integrated into financial planning processes, enabling utilities to allocate resources effectively for disaster resilience.

Partnering for training and capacity building initiatives

• Distinct training modules:

  Design specific training modules for different stakeholders, including government officials, utility executives, and field personnel, to enhance their capacity to manage disaster risks.

• Regular training programs:

  Implement regular training programs that focus on the latest practices and technologies in disaster resilience.

• Knowledge sharing platforms:

  Establish platforms for sharing knowledge and experiences related to disaster resilience, enabling continuous learning and improvement.

Create grants and funds tailored for power utilities

• Grant components for non-structural measures:

  Develop grants that focus on non-structural measures, such as disaster risk financing and reduction strategies. These grants should support activities like risk assessments, capacity building, and policy development.

• Power utility-focused funds:

  Create funds specifically for power utilities to address the unique risks and vulnerabilities of T&D infrastructure. These funds can be used for upgrading infrastructure, implementing new technologies, and enhancing overall resilience.

The comprehensive study and its recommendations provide a robust framework for developing resilient power systems in coastal regions. By adopting these strategies, Odisha not only enhances its own disaster preparedness but also offers a replicable model for other regions facing similar challenges. Integrating innovative funding mechanisms, data collection, and cross-sector collaboration, Odisha's approach sets a benchmark for resilience against extreme weather events, ensuring sustainable development and energy security.