Energy utilities face growing risks from flooding, wildfire, and changing environmental conditions, while regulatory frameworks and corporate commitments push for more ambitious resilience goals. Nature-based solutions (NbS) are emerging as a complementary infrastructure strategy that can address these risks while adding environmental and community benefits. For utilities, that can mean managing vegetation and habitat on rights-of-way, building natural features into substations, or restoring watersheds that affect utility operations.
Utilities are already acting. SMUD’s Sacramento Shade program has operated since 1990 as a utility-supported demand-side management initiative. SP Energy Networks developed a roadmap and design tool for bringing nature-based solutions into substations, and National Grid selected eight nature-based measures for a Massachusetts substation rebuild. At the watershed scale, one modeling study of forest restoration in California’s Yuba Project area estimated $6.5 million in net present value from added hydropower and water-sale benefits.
Our latest white paper synthesizes published research and utility examples, mainly from North America and the UK, for professionals exploring NbS. It outlines practical approaches to implementation, measurement, and risk management.
Inside, you’ll find:
Download the paper to see where nature-based solutions can fit into your infrastructure and risk planning. The business case is already there. The question is whether your organization is ready to use it.
