Resources time footprint analysis of onshore wind turbines combined with GIS-based site selection: A case study in Fujian Province, China

Abstract

Wind power is a promising renewable energy source that is rapidly expanding in the global electricity mix. This study explored suitable locations for onshore wind turbines, and estimated the wind power potential in Fujian Province, China. We also analyzed the resource occupancy of 100 years of potential wind turbine operation in terms of the materials, CO2 emissions, land, and labor. This was done using the sustainability indicator – resources time footprint (RTF). RTF measures the ratio of the occupancy of the resource within a period of time to the total capacity to provide a product or service. This is done using a time dimension (years). A higher RTF value indicates a larger environmental and social impact. Fujian Province has an annual wind power potential of 50,638 GWh, which is mainly clustered around its coastal regions. The RTF of steel is the largest in the material aspect, which is 1.2 times that of copper and 23.9 times that of aluminum. Negative values of the RTF of CO2 and land show that wind power is conducive to CO2 emission reduction and the prevention of future land occupancy. Furthermore, the construction and operation of wind turbines will not impose a burden on the labor force. The RTF values of the wind turbines decreased with an increase in the annual average wind speed. By modifying the parameters, this methodology can be applied to determine ideal locations in other regions, which present the highest environmental benefits, for future wind turbine installations.