The article “Climate extreme scenarios affecting the Italian energy system with a multi-hazard approach,” written by Paola Faggian and Arianna Trevisiol, RSE Sustainable Development and Energy Sources Department, has just been published by Bast magazine. It presents several future scenarios, obtained by processing the results of Euro-Cordex models (state-of-the-art regional climate models), characterising high-impact climate extremes expected over Italy in the short, medium, and long term under the three different emission pathways RCP8.5, RCP4.5 and RCP2.6.
 
In addition to providing climate projections characterising hot days, heat waves, water stress and extreme rainfall, obtained by computing some WMO indices, the article deepens the analysis of particularly critical conditions for the energy sector, by defining and calculating three new “Multi-Hazard” indices, termed “RSE indices” (resilient and sustainable energy system indices), DRO, STO and MUHZ, to characterise respectively droughts, serious weather conditions with strong winds and heavy rainfall, and areas affected by multiple threats. Taking into account the risks to which electricity infrastructures are particularly vulnerable, these indices aim to provide some of the information required for optimal planning of a climate resilient energy system.