Meteorological drought, a call for an energy crisis

What is meteorological drought, how is it affecting the planet, what climatic consequences is it leading to, and which countries are suffering the most from it? Come and find out!

Meteorological drought, a damage caused by human activity

We live in a context of climate change, marked by increasingly frequent extreme events and environmental anomalies. And why? Because it affects the availability and consumption of water, for the benefit and well-being of people, plants and animals. We are talking about agriculture, of course. But also about the ability of countries to generate energy in a sustainable way.

And it is precisely in this scenario that the threat of the energy crisis comes to the fore. Or rather, drought as a trigger for that danger. In this article, therefore, we will explore how drought, in capital letters, opens the door to an energy crisis. And while we are at it, we will also consider possible solutions to mitigate its effects. Let’s get started!

What is meteorological drought?

Incredible as it may seem, there is no universal definition of drought, accepted equally and point by point all over the world. Indeed, the term varies from place to place, according to the conception of many experts. The scientific literature debates between more than 150 definitions of drought, no less, as this expert portal states.

What scientific voices do agree on is that the environment is, in itself, a whole climate system. A system with natural variations and anthropogenic alterations, as is, for many, drought itself.

Transient and prolonged (more or less), this is drought in general. A period of time when rainfall in a geographical area falls below the normal values that usually accumulate in that same area. A shortage of rainfall that becomes a meteorological drought. And which, when prolonged even further, leads to a hydrological drought. In other words, an insufficiency of water resources that makes it difficult to supply the existing demand.

In short, it is a climatic phenomenon in which rainfall in a region is conspicuous by its absence, and for a prolonged period of time. Thus, drought often has devastating impacts where it is almost arid. Energy is, in fact, one of the sectors most at the mercy of these impacts, leading to red alerts and resource crises.

Water, meanwhile, is the base element in many of today’s energy generation formulas, either directly or indirectly. A common factor shared by hydroelectric plants, for example, in their process of converting the kinetic energy of water into electricity. The problem with this? That under the eye of a meteorological drought, reservoirs as well as rivers and lakes lose level and reserve. This obviously and unfortunately reduces the capacity to generate electricity.

Thermoelectric power plants, which, by the way, are another electricity production technique, are also endangered. Whether they run on nuclear power, natural gas or simply coal, they need large volumes of water to cool their systems. What does this mean? That in the face of water scarcity, their operation is limited, if not shut down, at least temporarily.

In short, we are talking about an energy sector whose vulnerability increases with the slightest hint of meteorological drought. Yes, the same drought that leads to a shortage of resources, starting with water. Water that becomes very necessary when extracting and processing fossil fuels, not to mention the production of biofuels.

The energy crisis that sucked Ecuador dry

Among the many and very noticeable consequences of global warming is the reversal and even radicalisation of climates, which will become increasingly extreme. Or so the scientific consensus predicts and warns. A phenomenon that will sow exposure and reap vulnerability across the planet, as Ecuador can already attest.

For the past three months, the country has been plunged into a severe energy crisis. A national drought that reduced reservoir reserves to historic and worrying levels, with hydroelectric plants faltering in their electrical efficiency.

A dark period that kept citizens in 19 of the 24 provinces on edge, after the government declared a red alert in those regions. Its peak, however, came in the form of several national blackouts, the longest of which lasted up to 14 hours. The objective? Maintenance of the country’s electricity system, according to Daniel Noboa’s presidency.

Forest fires, power cuts, water shortages, food security, energy rationing? All of these have plagued Ecuador over the past year. And it cannot even be said that the region has emerged unscathed from the fray. So much so that the drought it has suffered in recent months is considered one of the worst in the last 61 years. And no wonder, considering that its meteorological drought gave way to a resource drought.

This is a full-blown negative impact, very much present during these long dry periods. A setback exacerbated, moreover, by the fact that hydropower accounts for more than 60% of the country’s energy matrix. Incidentally, this is also the case in many other regions of Latin America. A dependence that only makes it more likely that they will face power cuts on the one hand, as well as increases in electricity costs on the other.

Climate change is an omnipresent agent that is increasingly making its extreme reality felt in the world. And the Latin region knows this all too well, having felt it first-hand. A fist of ice and heat bent on gripping and dragging today’s society to the ground, altering its dynamics and impacting the economy. Hydrometeorological events of which this study and other research of the same stature warns.

In this context, climate change acts to aggravate the danger by increasing the frequency and severity of droughts, such as the one in Ecuador, and the fact that population and urbanisation continue to grow only exacerbates the problem further. And the fact that population and urbanisation continue to grow only exacerbates the problem even further. Why is that? Because with their increase also comes an increase in energy demand, basically.

In short, a worrying cycle where scarcity and pollution come together to form an even greater threat. The reduction of water, on the one hand, encouraged by drought, causing the decrease of water as a source of energy. On the other hand, the use of fossil fuels, which is used to compensate for energy shortages, in turn contributes to global warming.

Solutions to mitigate the impact of meteorological drought, or how to make the energy sector more sustainable

The reduction in energy generation can have serious consequences, as we have already pointed out, both economically and socially. Countries like Ecuador, which still rely on hydropower, are forced to turn to alternative energy sources when drought strikes. One alternative? Fossil fuel plants. Fossil fuel plants. The problem? They are more expensive; plus they generate higher greenhouse gas emissions.

A change in the choice of energy production that directly affects the consumer. Or more precisely, their pockets, as the change tends to significantly increase electricity tariffs, which are set by the companies.

Blackouts such as those experienced by Ecuador are synonymous with energy instability. An oscillation in the supply that sometimes interrupts economic activities, decreasing labour productivity along the way (which, in turn, increases unemployment). Moreover, the education and health sectors are a clear example of the latter.

Centres such as hospitals, schools and universities need a constant supply of energy to operate. This is how many communities find their problems aggravated, starting with the existing ones; problems that arise from the lack of access to electricity. Yes, we are talking about poverty and inequality.

Drought in general, and meteorological and resource drought in particular, can therefore be said to threaten energy security. The worst thing? They can also trigger humanitarian crises. There are, however, a number of possibilities for dealing with this challenge. In any case, everything depends on implementing strategies to reduce dependence on water for energy generation. And to find ways, in these formulas, to embrace sustainability and devise new methods.

Thus, diversification of the energy matrix stands out as one of the most effective possible solutions to the aftermath of the meteorological drought. For example? Incorporating other renewable energy sources that do not depend on water. In other words? More frequent use of solar and/or wind energy.

Optimising the use of water in power plants is also another possible method of reducing the impact of weather-related drought on the energy sector. We are talking about improvements in water efficiency, starting with the use of recirculation technologies, for example. Or dry cooling systems that minimise the impact of water scarcity, for example.

On the other hand, there are many experts who argue that integrated resource management can be very useful. This means being able to coordinate water management in several sectors at the same time, from energy to agriculture and even urban areas. The benefits of this tactic? The possibility of ensuring a more equitable and efficient use of the resource itself.

Among the brainstorming of solutions to make the energy sector more sustainable is the importance of investing in resilient infrastructure. Translation? Building more efficient reservoirs and water storage systems, for example. This could help mitigate the effects of weather and resource drought on the manufacture of energy itself.

Finally, developing new energy technologies, ones that are less dependent on water, of course, is essential in this vision of the future. A commitment to promoting research and innovation which, of course, will help to guarantee long-term sustainability.

Drought, a challenge to be faced and overcome

In conclusion, it can be said that drought is more than a serious problem. It also represents a significant challenge to global energy security. A challenge that can put the Earth at risk, given how it is increasingly affected by the vagaries of climate change. The good news?

That with proper planning first, and the use of innovative technologies second, it is possible to mitigate its impacts. The goal of this proposal? To build a more resilient energy system. And, incidentally, to combat climate change itself with a more sustainable ecological transition. An energy matrix that, by the simple fact of being more and better diversified, will be a more solid umbrella against vulnerability to drought.