Reducing risks to electric power infrastructure due to extreme weather events by means of spatial planning: Case studies from Slovenia

The paper concerns the potential for spatial planning to improve the reliability of electric power infrastructure. The aim is to reduce risks of electric power outages due to extreme weather events (EWE) by proper siting of installations. A method of evaluating risks due to EWE is applied in two case studies. The first considers ice storms and the damage they cause to power grids; the second considers the damage of heavy rainstorms to hydroelectric power plants (HPPs). The results are presented in the form of a risk assessment method that can be incorporated into spatial planning. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.