Evaluating the potential of offshore wind energy in the Gulf of Oman using the MENA-CORDEX wind speed data simulations

Abstract

The MENA-CORDEX (the Middle East and North Africa-COordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment) wind speed data at the height of 10 m is converted to the turbine hub-height for estimating the mean wind power in the Gulf of Oman. The results show high spatial variability of the historical and future mean wind power projection. Furthermore, the impact of climate change on the mean wind power (under the representative concentration pathway 8.5, RCP8.5, scenario) is found to be less than 5%, which indicates the sustainability of wind renewable energy. Based on the wind power distribution, bathymetry, and distance from the coast, five sites are selected in the Gulf of Oman as tentative energy hotspots to provide a detailed assessment of the directional variability of wind power for the historical and future periods. Significant variability of the directional distribution of wind power is found in the five study sites, which make it imperative to optimally design wind turbines and farms to achieve the best efficiency. The findings also indicate that the main direction and magnitude of wind power in the five sites under the RCP8.5 climate change scenario will remain almost the same as those of the historical period. Overall, the sustainability of power production under climate change impacts is promising to plan for wind energy extraction in the Gulf of Oman.