A new study in Nature Climate Change has shown that extreme “wind droughts” that reduce power output from turbines for extended periods could become 15 per cent longer by the end of the century across much of the northern hemisphere under a moderate warming scenario.
According to the study which explores how climate change could impact the length and frequency of prolonged low-wind events around the world, “prominent” wind droughts have already been documented in Europe, the US, northeastern China, Japan and India.
As the planet warms, wind droughts will become longer in the northern hemisphere and mid-latitudes – especially across the US, northeastern China, Russia and much of Europe – the paper says.
The study – which focuses on onshore wind – warns that “prolonged” wind droughts could “threaten global wind power security”.
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However, they add that research into the effects of climate change on wind supply can help “prepare for and mitigate the adverse impacts” of these prolonged low-wind events.
Combining wind power with other energy technologies – such as solar, hydro, nuclear power and energy storage – can help reduce the impact of wind droughts on global energy supply, the study says.
One expert not involved in the research tells Carbon Brief that the findings do not “spell doom for the wind industry”.
He said that the study is a “navigation tool” which could help the energy industry to “counteract” future challenges.
Story was adapted from Eco business.
