Take-away Lessons from the Copenhagen Flooding

Oct. 6, 2011 - PRLog -- Interview by Helen Winsor, Energy & Utilities IQ

Lars Therkildsen, Managing Director for Kobenhavn Energi, the local authority-owned utilities company in and around Copenhagen, joins Energy IQ to offer some lessons learned from the severe flooding incidents in the city during the summer.

Energy & Utilities IQ: Lars, on 2nd July 2011 a severe downpour caused a severe flooding event in the city of Copenhagen. What was the cost of the flooding event in terms of homes and livelihoods and also in terms of public infrastructure?

L Therkildsen: We don’t yet have a complete breakdown of the costs however statements from the Association of Insurance Companies indicate a cost of about €300 million to €400 million.

Energy & Utilities IQ: In your opinion would it have been possible to predict and thus limit the impact of the weather and such a severe flooding outcome this summer?

L Therkildsen: Prediction using weather models and radar seems feasible however it is still in a research phase in a Danish University project where Kobenhavn Energi participates. There is no decision about that yet.

Energy & Utilities IQ: Many people would see this kind of extreme weather as symptomatic of climate change. Do you have any comments regarding that and is Kobenhavn Energi planning for changing weather patterns due to climate change?


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Lars Therkildsen will be speaking at Energy IQ’s forthcoming Stormwater Summit 2011, due to take place from 23rd – 24th November at Swedbank Stadion, Malmo, Sweden. For further information about the agenda and expert speaker panel, please visit www.dagvattenhantering.se, email enquire@iqpc.co.uk or call 0800 652 2363.