Ensemble modeling of the climate-energy nexus for renewable energy generation across multiple US states

The effects of climate change on renewable energy generation are of growing concern, as shifts in weather patterns and extreme events can significantly impact energy production. This study aims to leverage machine learning models to predict renewable energy generation based on the surrounding climat...

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Main Authors: Joy Adul, Rohini Kumar, Renee Obringer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/adad12
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author Joy Adul
Rohini Kumar
Renee Obringer
author_facet Joy Adul
Rohini Kumar
Renee Obringer
author_sort Joy Adul
collection DOAJ
description The effects of climate change on renewable energy generation are of growing concern, as shifts in weather patterns and extreme events can significantly impact energy production. This study aims to leverage machine learning models to predict renewable energy generation based on the surrounding climate. We analyze data from four key states: California, New York, Florida, and Georgia, and focus on three critical renewable energy sources: hydroelectric, solar, and wind power. To determine the optimal model, we test six primary machine learning techniques, as well as an ensemble and a mean-only baseline. The results indicate that the ensemble approach improves the predictive accuracy of the model. Using this ensemble, we projected the changes to climate-sensitive portion of the renewable energy generation under climate change. Our results indicated that there was a wide variation of possible futures, depending on the state, source, and season. For example, the model projected a reduction in California’s monthly total renewable energy generation in the summer by 0.5%, or about 30 000 MWh, under SSP5-8.5, the worst-case scenario, but an increase of 0.5%, or about 25 000 MWh, in New York’s monthly total summer renewable energy generation under the same scenario. The modeling techniques detailed in this study can be applied across new regions, sources, or time periods. Ultimately, by understanding the influence of climate on renewable energy generation, we can improve the long-term planning process for the electricity grid, while building resilience and ensuring sustainable climate change mitigation and adaptation.
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spelling doaj-art-175c2f61df0043be867f6e2c24f8ee592025-02-03T12:57:51ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability2634-45052025-01-015101500610.1088/2634-4505/adad12Ensemble modeling of the climate-energy nexus for renewable energy generation across multiple US statesJoy Adul0https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8339-4936Rohini Kumar1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4396-2037Renee Obringer2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4471-4131Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, Pennsylvania State University , University Park, PA 16802, United States of AmericaDepartment of Computational Hydrosystems, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ , Leipzig 04318, GermanyDepartment of Energy and Mineral Engineering, Pennsylvania State University , University Park, PA 16802, United States of America; United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) , Richmond Hill, ON, L8P 0A1, CanadaThe effects of climate change on renewable energy generation are of growing concern, as shifts in weather patterns and extreme events can significantly impact energy production. This study aims to leverage machine learning models to predict renewable energy generation based on the surrounding climate. We analyze data from four key states: California, New York, Florida, and Georgia, and focus on three critical renewable energy sources: hydroelectric, solar, and wind power. To determine the optimal model, we test six primary machine learning techniques, as well as an ensemble and a mean-only baseline. The results indicate that the ensemble approach improves the predictive accuracy of the model. Using this ensemble, we projected the changes to climate-sensitive portion of the renewable energy generation under climate change. Our results indicated that there was a wide variation of possible futures, depending on the state, source, and season. For example, the model projected a reduction in California’s monthly total renewable energy generation in the summer by 0.5%, or about 30 000 MWh, under SSP5-8.5, the worst-case scenario, but an increase of 0.5%, or about 25 000 MWh, in New York’s monthly total summer renewable energy generation under the same scenario. The modeling techniques detailed in this study can be applied across new regions, sources, or time periods. Ultimately, by understanding the influence of climate on renewable energy generation, we can improve the long-term planning process for the electricity grid, while building resilience and ensuring sustainable climate change mitigation and adaptation.https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/adad12renewable energymachine learningensemble modelingclimate-energy nexusclimate change impacts
spellingShingle Joy Adul
Rohini Kumar
Renee Obringer
Ensemble modeling of the climate-energy nexus for renewable energy generation across multiple US states
Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability
renewable energy
machine learning
ensemble modeling
climate-energy nexus
climate change impacts
title Ensemble modeling of the climate-energy nexus for renewable energy generation across multiple US states
title_full Ensemble modeling of the climate-energy nexus for renewable energy generation across multiple US states
title_fullStr Ensemble modeling of the climate-energy nexus for renewable energy generation across multiple US states
title_full_unstemmed Ensemble modeling of the climate-energy nexus for renewable energy generation across multiple US states
title_short Ensemble modeling of the climate-energy nexus for renewable energy generation across multiple US states
title_sort ensemble modeling of the climate energy nexus for renewable energy generation across multiple us states
topic renewable energy
machine learning
ensemble modeling
climate-energy nexus
climate change impacts
url https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/adad12
work_keys_str_mv AT joyadul ensemblemodelingoftheclimateenergynexusforrenewableenergygenerationacrossmultipleusstates
AT rohinikumar ensemblemodelingoftheclimateenergynexusforrenewableenergygenerationacrossmultipleusstates
AT reneeobringer ensemblemodelingoftheclimateenergynexusforrenewableenergygenerationacrossmultipleusstates