Wind Energy Development Research Articles

Techno-economic assessment of potential zones for offshore wind energy: A methodology

This work presents a methodology for the techno-economic assessment and comparison of potential zones for the development of offshore wind energy. The methodology is illustrated through a case study in North Spain, using the high-potential zones designated by the Spanish government. The main elements considered include the bathymetry (water depths), energy production and total working hours based on the wind climate, maintenance windows based on the wave climate, and distance to selected port facilities that can accommodate the installation and operational and maintenance phases of an offshore wind farm. An interesting dichotomy arises moving from west to east along N Spain – energy production and working hours decrease, but maintenance windows increase. Given that both aspects play a role in the costs of an offshore wind project, pondering them adequately is crucial, and the selection of a particular zone for development may depend on project-specific cost models. Water depths may preclude the installation of bottom-fixed structures in certain areas; importantly, they may also represent a constraint for the deployment of certain floating concepts, particularly in the high-potential zones of the Cantabrian Sea. Finally, ports capable of servicing the offshore wind farms are identified and distances to all high-potential zones, calculated. By examining the unique properties of the high-potential zones, this methodology, which can be applied to other regions of interest for offshore wind, provides valuable insights into the advantages and challenges of offshore wind development at each site and thereby contributes to informed decision-making.

Unlocking the Potential of Wind Turbine Blade Recycling: Assessing Techniques and Metrics for Sustainability

The rapid growth of the wind energy industry has resulted in a significant increase in Wind Turbine Blade (WTB) waste, posing challenges for recycling due to the composite materials used in their construction. Several proposed techniques, including mechanical, thermal, and chemical processes, have been considered for wind-blade recycling, but determining the most effective approach remains a critical issue. This study presents the first comprehensive systematic review of available wind-blade recycling processes, evaluating their economic, technical, and environmental performance. Additionally, we consider the physical and mechanical properties of the recycled materials, which can aid in identifying potential markets for these materials. Among the various recycling technologies, microwave pyrolysis emerges as the most promising technique for recycling large quantities of WTB, despite some challenges and uncertainties surrounding its effectiveness and feasibility at an industrial scale. However, the optimal recycling technique for WTB will depend on multiple factors, including the blade material, the desired environmental impact, and the economic feasibility of the process. Based on this review, mechanical recycling appears to be more energy-efficient, while the fluidised bed recycling process demonstrates a lower primary energy demand, global warming potential, and power consumption. These findings provide valuable guidance for decision-makers in the wind energy industry to develop effective waste management strategies and plans for sustainable wind energy development. Addressing WTB waste and implementing efficient recycling techniques will be critical in mitigating environmental impacts and promoting sustainability in the renewable energy sector as the wind energy industry grows.

EUROPEAN OFFSHORE NETWORK WITH WIND POWER PLANTS

Problems The growth of electricity consumption and the change in climatic conditions present society with the challenge of ensuring sustainable and ecologically clean electricity production. For many countries, especially in the European Union, the transition to sustainable and ecologically clean energy sources has become a priority.
 Objective A general overview and analysis of trends in the development of the network of offshore wind power plants located in the open sea on the continental shelf of European countries
 Methodology of implementation The strategy for the development of a single European offshore network with wind power plants was used for research. The study of the effectiveness and advantages of offshore power plants was carried out in the variability of the advanced countries of the European Union..
 Results An overview of the electric power industry of European countries that pursue an active policy in the field of offshore energy is given. The statistics on the generation of wind energy, the number and development of wind turbines in Europe are given. The main projects that have been implemented or are in the process of preparation have been considered. An analysis of the measures introduced by the European Union to increase the use of wind energy and reduce dependence on traditional energy sources and achieve carbon neutrality was performed.
 Conclusions The European offshore network with wind power plants has become an important component of sustainable energy development in the region. Statistics on the development of offshore wind energy indicate that European countries are actively working on the development of this sector, investing significant efforts and resources.

Ice-phobic properties of MoS2-loaded rice straw biogas residue biochar-based photothermal and anti-corrosion coating with low oxygen to carbon ratio

Icing of wind turbine blades will seriously hinder the development of the wind power industry, and the use of biomass resources to solve the icing problem is conducive to promoting the synergistic development of biomass and wind energy. In this study, ice-phobic coatings with photothermal and anti-corrosion properties were prepared by surface modification pyrolysis and hydrothermal reaction with rice straw biogas residue as raw material. The erosion of KOH and the surface modification of MoS2 produced a rough structure of the material, and the high-temperature pyrolysis and hydrothermal reaction promoted the dehydrogenation and decarboxylation reactions, which reduced the number of oxygen-containing functional groups and decreased the surface energy of the material. The ice-phobic coating has superhydrophobic properties with a contact angle of 158.32°. Due to the small surface area in contact with water, the coating was able to significantly reduce the icing adhesion strength to 53.23 kPa. The icing wind tunnel test results showed that the icing area and mass were reduced by 10.54% and 30.08%, respectively, when the wind speed was 10 m s−1 and the temperature was − 10 °C. Photothermal performance tests showed that the MoS2-loaded material had light absorption properties, and the coating could rapidly warm up to 58.3 ℃ under xenon lamp irradiation with photothermal cycle stability. The loading of MoS2 acts as a physical barrier, reducing the contact of corrosive media with the substrate, thus improving the anti-corrosion of the coating. This study has practical application value and significance for the development of the anti-icing field under complex environmental conditions.Graphical

Innovative mechanisms for designing the system of public administration of the industry

Subject. This article discusses the development of wind energy in Russia. Objectives. The article aims to identify a set of key management objects and develop a process model for the functioning of the State management system of the electric power industry. Methods. For the study, we used a systems analysis. Results. Based on the analysis of the regulatory legal acts governing the development of the electric power industry in Russia, the article designs a single control loop for the industry. It finds that the problems of the existing system of governance lie in the fragmentation and disparity of its elements with each other. For the received projects of the federal system of public administration in the energy sector, the article offers complete lists of elements that eliminate the identified problems. Conclusions. The results of the study can be taken into account when developing projects for the use of renewable energy sources in Russia.

Impact of Renewable Energy Sources on Climate Change

Based on the analytical analysis of the eco-energy resource potentials of renewable energy sources and climate change, the potential for mitigation and costs, the strategy of Turkmenistan on climate change, energy demand and the greenhouse effect, options for reducing emissions, a heterogeneous class of renewable technologies (solar, wind, bioenergy, geothermal and hydropower). Research to date suggests that climate change is not expected to significantly affect the global technical potential for wind energy development, but changes in the regional distribution of wind energy resources can be expected. Climate change is not expected to have a significant impact on the amount or geographic distribution of geothermal or ocean and marine energy resources.

Wind farms and Griffon Vultures: Evidence that under certain conditions history is not-always turbulent

Since the early stages of wind energy development, there has been concern about the potential impact of wind farms on wildlife, particularly birds and bats. However, the lack of long-term studies has hindered the assessment of the real effect of wind farms on mortality and disturbances. We show a case study in which we researched during the nestling rearing period the long-term effects of a wind farm located in southern Spain on the abundance, displacement, and mortality of the Griffon Vulture, a raptor considered very sensitive to collisions. After 13 years of operation, observation and abundance rates increased significantly during the study period. Griffon Vultures avoided flights between wind turbines by flying at the ends of the rows or through the existing corridor between alignments of wind turbines. Our results are in line with the theory that birds may become habituated to the presence of wind farms suggesting that, under certain conditions, it could be possible to reconcile the presence of wind farms with raptor conservation. Environmental agencies should not only require robust pre-construction surveys, but also that wind energy developers monitor bird abundance and behaviours throughout the lifetime of a wind farm. Since not all wind farms are associated with high mortality rates, such an initiative could be key to gaining more knowledge on the association between wind-farm location, design and risk to birds.

Analysis of Competitiveness Factors of Wind Power: A Case study in the Alto Sertão Wind Complex in the State of Bahia, Brazil

The increasing demand for electricity in Brazil has significant economic implications for the energy market. In this context, it is important to investigate alternative sources that can meet this demand, as well as understand the key factors that influence this process. The Wind power is considered one of the most promising sources, due to its exponential growth, cost-effectiveness, and continuous supply assurance. However, given the consolidation of fossil fuel sources in economic and technical terms, it is necessary to understand the factors of competitiveness that can be considered as potentials or constraints for the full development of wind energy. Thus, the overall objective of this research was to analyze the competitiveness factors of wind energy, using the Alto Sertão wind complex located in the state of Bahia as a case study. The methodology used in this research was based on an exploratory documentary approach, which sought regulated information from government agencies. The research predominantly used secondary data sources, combined with conducting interviews. The results indicate three factors that confer competitiveness to the sector. Unlike other states in the Northeast, which have a higher occurrence of winds along the coast, Bahia has its greatest wind potential concentrated in the interior, east of the São Francisco River, from the Espinhaço Range to municipality of Juazeiro - BA. This is due to low cloudiness and the process of high atmospheric pressure moving towards the Northeast, resulting in excellent quality winds for wind energy generation, which makes the region competitive.

Assessment of Barriers to Wind Energy Development Using Analytic Hierarchy Process

Despite the vast potential of wind energy, it has yet to be implemented widely in Bangladesh. Several barriers play major roles in obstructing the wind energy sector’s development in Bangladesh. Hence, it is necessary to identify these barriers to progress this sector’s growth. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is a multi-criteria decision-making method that can rank alternatives by considering multiple factors. It is a valuable tool for complex decision-making problems with multiple criteria, and their relationships must be clarified. So, in this analysis, AHP is used to rank the barriers related to wind energy development in Bangladesh. First, six main barriers and eighteen sub-barriers have been identified from a detailed and comprehensive literature review. The main barriers are categorized into technical, administrative, policy and political, economic, social, and geographic. After that, a questionnaire was sent to experts to obtain their opinions on these barriers. Based on the analysis, it was found that, with a weighted score of 0.46, technical barriers were the most significant ones. Administrative barriers ranked second with a weighted score of 0.21, and social barriers ranked last with a weighted score of 0.03. Among the sub-barriers, risks associated with technology were found to be the most significant, while land use conflict was found to be the least significant. Finally, several recommendations are provided to overcome the wind energy barriers in Bangladesh. The findings of this study can help policymakers and stakeholders develop strategies to overcome the barriers to wind energy development in Bangladesh.

Farm size, spatial externalities, and wind energy development

AbstractThe global push for renewable energy must overcome the local challenge of convincing neighboring landowners to lease their properties for wind power. Is this challenge more or less pronounced in rural landscapes with small landholdings? Our theoretical model combines ideas from literatures on the commons, anticommons, and spatial externalities to explain conditions when small landholdings could promote or inhibit voluntary leasing. Empirically, we estimate the effects of landholding size and landscape fragmentation on wind farm uptake across rural areas of the United States over the past 20 years. Evidence from three spatial levels of analysis (counties, square‐mile sections, and individual parcels) indicates that areas with more landowners have less installed wind capacity after controlling for windiness, access to transmission lines, and other relevant factors that vary across and within counties. The findings imply that fragmented ownership, which is an overlooked factor in studies of the feasibility of decarbonization, will pose an impediment to future wind expansion on private land as remaining areas without wind development become disproportionately fragmented.

Promoting the Development of Wind Energy

Promoting the Development of Wind Energy

Noise-induced sleep disruption from wind turbines: scientific updates and acoustical standards.

Wind energy appears to place global environmental benefits against local human health, particularly sleep. The result is a significant challenge to wind-energy development for the achievement of large-scale alternative energy. Our purpose is to examine noise from wind turbines and its potential to disrupt sleep, to examine the human health literature addressing these concerns, and to provide insight into how developers and communities can employ these concepts to pursue wind energy without impacting human health. The latest and most rigorous research on noise from wind turbines points to healthy sleep, when turbines are sited reasonably. This includes audible noise, low-frequency noise, and infrasound. Recent advances in acoustical standards provide practical methods to ensure adherence to these scientific findings. There now exist key data concerning wind-turbine noise, and its impact on sleep. Knowing that information, and how to deploy it with modern engineering standards should simultaneously facilitate wind development and protect human health.

Research paradigm for high-precision, large-scale wind energy potential: An example of a geographically-constrained multi-criteria decision analysis model at the km-level in China

Wind power plays a pivotal role in China's endeavor to achieve its ambitious emissions reduction targets. However, the current research on wind energy potential lacks standardization, making it arduous to compare wind potential across different regions and match energy supply and demand accurately. To address this issue, this study developed a geographically-constrained multi-criteria decision analysis (GIS-MCDA) model to estimate China's wind energy potential at a resolution of 1 km2. The GIS-MCDA model is reconstructed from a geospatial perspective using 11 finely-grained metric indicators, significantly improving the accuracy of estimates. Moreover, this study proposes a research paradigm for wind energy potential that can serve as a reference for other countries and regions. The results demonstrate that China possesses a wind energy development potential of 4.6 TW at a height of 100 m, including 4.1 TW of onshore wind power potential and 0.5 TW of offshore potential. The abundant resources can assist China in achieving its zero-carbon emissions goal. However, the abundant wind energy resources in the "Three North" region of China do not match the current electricity demand. Conversely, the southeast coastal region presents significant potential for offshore wind power, heralding a new opportunity for wind power development. By depicting the deployment potential of wind power, this study provides more precise estimates, establishes a research paradigm for wind energy potential, enhances researchers' comprehension of wind energy development, and provides a replicable, scalable, and quantifiable wind energy potential measurement platform for effective planning of renewable energy.

Upcalling behaviour and patterns in North Atlantic right whales, implications for monitoring protocols during wind energy development

Abstract Offshore wind energy is rapidly developing in US waters, with construction underway off Southern New England (SNE), an important region for many species, including the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale (NARW). A data-driven understanding of NARW upcalling behaviour is presented here to help establish proper monitoring protocols for mitigating impacts. Analyses of individual upcalls from 2 years of acoustic recordings showed that NARWs were detected at least 1 day every week throughout both years, with highest NARW presence from October to April. Weeks with more days of acoustic presence typically had more hours with calling activity, but the number of upcalls within a day or hour was variable, reflective of the social function of the upcall. Within SNE, on average, 95% of the time NARWs persisted for 10 days, and reoccurred again within 11 days. An evaluation of the time period over which it is most effective to monitor prior to commencing pile driving activities showed that with 1 h of pre-construction monitoring there was only 4% likelihood of hearing a NARW, compared to 74% at 18 h. Therefore, monitoring for at least 24 h prior to activity will increase the likelihood of detecting an up-calling NARW.

The spatial correlation between trawl surveys and planned wind energy infrastructure on the US Northeast Continental Shelf

Abstract The development of wind energy on the US Northeast Continental Shelf (NES) may preclude resource-monitoring programmes from continuing in their original study designs. We considered the spatial requirements of energy developers and the spatial autocorrelation of resident species as a means to inform survey mitigation. The spatial requirements of the NES wind industry were considered in respect to the delineation of settled lease areas. We suggest access metrics ranging from 8 to 21 km representing the interquartile range of chord distances across the settled lease areas. Using survey data and concentrating on commercial species with stock assessment requirements, we computed indices of spatial autocorrelation. Tests of spatial autocorrelation using Moran’s I and join counts statistics were significant (p < 0.05) for most species, suggesting a high level of spatial correlation in their distributions. To characterize a scalar extent of spatial correlation, variograms were fit to estimate the physical range of correlated catches. These data suggest most species were spatially correlated well beyond the distance metrics derived from the lease area shapes. Sampling by a range of gears has the potential of producing spatially accurate depictions of species distributions and abundance despite the restrictions wind lease areas may place on sampling designs.

An attention mechanism based deep nonlinear ensemble paradigm of strengthened feature extraction method for wind power prediction

The inherent uncertainty of wind power always hampers difficulties in the development of wind energy and the smooth operation of power systems. Therefore, reliable ultra-short-term wind power prediction is crucial for the development of wind energy. In this research, a two-stage nonlinear ensemble paradigm based on double-layer decomposition technology, feature reconstruction, intelligent optimization algorithm, and deep learning is suggested to increase the prediction accuracy of ultra-short-term wind power. First, using two different signal decomposition techniques for processing can further filter out noise in the original signal and fully capture different features within it. Second, the multiple components obtained through double decomposition are reconstructed using sample entropy theory and reassembled into several feature subsequences with similar complexity to simplify the input variables of the prediction model. Finally, based on the idea of a two-stage prediction strategy, the cuckoo search algorithm and the attention mechanism optimized long- and short-term memory model are applied to the prediction of feature subsequences and nonlinear integration, respectively, to obtain the final prediction results. Two sets of data from wind farms in Liaoning Province, China are used for simulation experiments. The final empirical findings indicate that, in comparison to other models, the suggested wind power prediction model has a greater prediction accuracy.

Mechanisms to promote household investment in wind energy: A national experimental survey

Citizen investment into wind energy is conducive to public acceptance and can contribute to closing the renewable energy investment gap, while promoting corporate social responsibility. This study addresses this topic and conducts a novel choice experiment to determine the investment preferences of a representative sample of 1,009 Irish households. First, the paper investigates the attributes determining willingness to invest into wind farms. Second, it considers to what extent public attitudes and proximity to wind farms affect investment. Third, it assesses the suitability of five specific investment mechanisms. Through these activities the findings enhance current understanding of the opportunities and challenges concerning the design of citizen investments within a centralised system which is predominantly reliant on incumbent wind energy developers. The findings show that the risk of loss and the expected annual return on investment are the main attributes determining investment decisions, but secondary criteria, such as the project location and ownership characteristics, also affect willingness to invest. Respondents living within 10 km of a wind farm or expressing support for wind energy are significantly more likely to consider investing. Recommendations include interventions to encourage joint ventures between community organisations and specialised developers as a mechanism to promote investment in wind farms.

Environmental Assessment of Onshore Wind Energy Plans in Germany and Scotland: A Procedural Compliance with Respect to Integration of Climate Change Impacts

Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) provides an opportunity to integrate climate change issues into renewable energy plans to mitigate the effects of climate change. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of the extent to which climate change issues are incorporated into SEAs of onshore wind energy plans in Germany and Scotland. To achieve our objective, we employed a modified version of the Lee and Colley review package to analyse SEA reports. The combined results of our analysis show that 49% and approximately 45% of the overall tasks performed in all the review areas in terms of climate change integration in the documents reviewed were considered satisfactory for Germany and Scotland, respectively. In order to effectively consider the climate change impacts in SEAs and to efficiently plan for onshore wind energy development, due consideration should be given to the adoption of diverse methodological approaches and models of climate change.

A review of wind energy potential in Morocco: New challenges and perspectives

Morocco has a significant wind energy potential due to its favorable climate proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, and temperature conditions. The governments recognize the importance of transitioning to sustainable energy sources and have taken strategic steps to promote the renewable energy sector, particularly wind energy, to reduce dependence on finite fossil fuels and promote eco-friendly alternatives. Local and international enterprises, along with private investors, have undertaken various wind energy projects in the country. Despite overreliance on conventional resources like coal and gasoline leading to an energy crisis, Morocco sees wind energy as a viable solution due to its increasing accessibility and cost effectiveness. This study comprehensively explores Morocco’s wind energy landscape, defining wind energy and its global and local potential. It highlights challenges and opportunities in wind energy development and outlines strategies to enhance wind resource utilization. By 2021, Morocco achieved a significant milestone by raising the proportion of clean energy in its mix to 37, 6% with wind energy contributing 45% of this. Building on this success, Morocco aims to further increase its renewable energy capacity, targeting 52% of total capacity from renewable source by 2030 according to (IRENA). This showcases Morocco’s commitment to sustainable energy and its progressive approach to creating a greener and more resilient energy future.

Fine-scale collision risk mapping and validation with long-term mortality data reveal current and future wind energy development impact on sensitive species

The ongoing demand for renewable energy has boosted the development of wind farms worldwide. Given the impact these facilities have on flying species, a spatially explicit assessment of collision risk in vulnerable species is needed to guide management actions and prioritise areas for installing these infrastructures. We used GPS-tracking data of 127 adult and 50 juvenile griffon vultures in peninsular Spain gathered between 2014 and 2022 to evaluate factors influencing vulnerability and exposure and predict collision risk. We validate the observed collision risk with recorded long-term mortality data (1999–2022) at regional and wind farm scales and evaluate the estimated impact of current and future turbine facilities. Our results showed that overall food availability increases vulnerability and exposure, whilst distance to nesting areas and the presence of conspecifics decreased both vulnerability and exposure in adults and juveniles, respectively. Our maps revealed that 19% and 10% of the Spanish peninsular area had a high collision risk for adults and juveniles, respectively. Importantly, the number of turbine casualties was positively related to collision risk at the regional and wind farm scale and ∼ 18 of the breeding population lies within high collision risk areas.Moreover, the areas with the highest risk of collision also have the highest number of turbines and largely overlap with areas suitable for developing new wind farms. Our study highlights the need to reduce collision risk mapping uncertainties by validating model outputs with actual mortality data. Moreover, it emphasises the urgent need for spatial planning of wind energy development, searching for safer alternatives for biodiversity. This approach undoubtedly serves as a tool to define “not go to” areas for installing new turbines for one of the most sensitive species.