Distance to power grids and consideration criteria reduce global wind energy potential the most

Abstract

To reduce the negative implications associated with the use of conventional energies on the environment and human health, intensified renewable energy expansion is inevitable. Wind energy is one of the most promising renewable energies since the theoretical technical wind energy potential is far enough to cover the global electricity consumption. However, various geographical barriers reduce the wind potential to contribute to a more sustainable power supply. The main goal of this study was to quantify the percentage reduction of the theoretical technical wind energy potential due to geographical barriers. The geographical barriers were derived from seven land use models and an elevation model and classified into the restriction categories: (1) inaccessible areas (natural), (2) inaccessible areas (artificial), (3) protected areas, (4) missing infrastructure, and (5) consideration criteria. The theoretical technical wind energy potential was estimated by wind speed distributions from the Global Wind Speed Model and assuming a dense global onshore network of wind turbines within 500 m distances. The results reveal that the most significant theoretical technical wind energy potential loss results from missing infrastructure and soft consideration criteria. The global percentage energy reduction is 96.1 %. In most developing countries, lacking infrastructure was identified as the restriction category resulting in the most notable theoretical technical wind energy potential reduction. This result emphasizes the need to improve the accessibility to wind resources in developing countries by improving the electricity grid. In industrialized countries, consideration criteria (e.g., forests, agricultural areas, proximity to urban areas) cause the greatest theoretical technical wind energy potential reduction. Thus, the extent to which the theoretical technical wind energy potential is exploitable greatly depends on regulations, public acceptance, and agreements on competitive land use. By identifying the most relevant geographical barriers, the results of this study contribute to the development of country-specific frameworks for wind energy expansion.