When climate risks become operationally relevant for renewable energy assets.

How UNIQA Sustainable helps a renewable energy operator in Southeast Europe to identify climate risks early, quantify financial impacts, and derive concrete measures to safeguard long-term operational performance.

At a glance

Company:

Renewable energy operators in South-Eastern Europe

Industry:

Solar photovoltaic and battery storage

Asset value:

€100m

Challenge:

Quantification of the impacts of climate risks

Solution:

Climate Risk Analysis

Result:

Fact-based risk documentation to secure long-term operational continuity

When renewable energy assets become exposed to climate change

Renewable energy assets are designed for the long term. However, climate conditions are evolving faster than many assets were originally designed for. Heatwaves, hailstorms, droughts and wildfires are increasingly impacting operational performance, maintenance requirements and business continuity.

For operators of utility-scale solar and battery storage facilities, climate-related disruptions are not only an environmental issue, there are also a commercial risk. They can have a direct impact on revenue generation, asset availability and financing assumptions. In this context, the operator of this PV assets needed a reliable basis for decision-making: Which climate risks are most relevant, what costs can they cause and which measures should be prioritised to ensure business continuity in the long term?

„

Climate variability is no longer a background consideration for the energy sector - it is a defining operational factor.

“

Prof. Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

From climate data to investment decisions

Together with UNIQA Sustainable, the operator conducted a climate risk analysis tailored to the location, equipment and operating profile. The objective was not only to identify climate-related risks, but also to quantify them financially and prioritise practical mitigation measures. The assessment combined climate science, asset vulnerability analysis, financial modelling and risk engineering into a single decision-making framework.

The project followed a structured four-step methodology:

Data collection: Site documentation, technical specifications and operating information have been gathered and reviewed.
Analysis of climate hazards: Twelve climate hazards were assessed using multiple regional climate models.
Risk and Vulnerability Assessment: The greatest threats to asset availability, revenue generation, and business continuity have been identified and prioritised.
Development of adaptation measures: Cost-effective measures to safeguard plant operation were derived for the identified risks.

Proof at a glance

The analysis identified four risks that could significantly affect long-term operational performance: Wildfire, Hail, Drought, Heat stress.

A key benefit of the analysis was the ability to express climate-related risks in financial metrics rather than just in qualitative descriptions:

Up to €3 million in potential one-time business interruption losses.
Up to €400,000 per year in potential losses due to recurring heat stress in battery systems.

Do you want to know which climate risks could become financially relevant for your business?

Concrete measures to increase resilience

Based on the results, a prioritised adaptation roadmap was developed. The recommended measures included:

Setting up of fire-resistant vegetation zones around battery storage areas
Implementation of Weather information systems and automated protection operation modes
Increasing hail protection through physical safeguards and spare-parts strategies
Integration of temperature management protocols into operating procedures

The added value for the customer:

Risks become visible: Clear transparency regarding climate-related vulnerabilities and operational exposure.
Actionable recommendations: Every identified risk is linked to concrete and prioritised measures.
Better-informed decisions: Stronger basis for investment, maintenance and risk management decisions.
Greater stakeholder trust: Documentation to support discussions with insurers and lenders.
Operational performance is safeguarded: Measures protect asset availability, revenues and long-term profitability.

Those who understand risks early can actively shape the future.

For further information, contact us and discover how you can address climate risks in a targeted way and strengthen your company's resilience.

The success story in detail

Find out more about the renewable energy plants success story

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