Wind Energy In Europe Research Articles

Analysis of the main socio-economic impacts of wind energy in Europe

The large increase in renewable energy sources (RES-E) penetration in the European Union (EU) has raised the concern of policy makers about the costs of public promotion of RES-E, in spite of the commitment of the European Commission to the deployment of RES-E in the last years. This paper is focused on wind energy, because it is the renewable technology with the highest contribution to electricity mix in Europe (excluding hydro). An economic analysis of wind energy contribution should not only take into account the policy costs of the deployment, which are finally paid by electricity consumers, but also its benefits, particularly those related to climate change mitigation and the reduction of fossil fuel dependence distributed among citizens. The aim of this paper is to fill this gap and evaluate the policy costs and the most relevant benefits of wind energy deployment in the EU28 (28 Member States) using 2013 data. For this purpose, an innovated methodology internationally validated has been used. The results show that the benefits considered are relevant and should be taken into account when support costs are assessed and in the future development of energy policies in Europe.

Climate change on extreme winds already affects off-shore wind power availability in Europe

Off-shore wind energy in Europe plays a key role in the transition to renewable energy, and its usage is expected to increase in the next few decades. According to the working regimes of a wind turbine, wind energy production can be disrupted by extreme atmospheric events related to low wind speed below the cut-in wind speed and high wind speed above the cut-out wind speed. The purpose of this work is to estimate the behavior of extreme winds on the European panorama, over the period 1950–2020, in order to investigate the large-scale weather regimes related to them and their impact on off-shore wind energy availability. We detected significant changes in the frequency of high and low extreme wind events, proving that climate change or long-term internal climate variability have already affected the off-shore wind power output. Moreover, the analysis of weather regimes showed that high and low extreme wind events can occur simultaneously over Europe. Our results suggest the necessity to implement efficient European energy management policies, to minimize the deficit in wind power supply.

Scaling up Offshore Wind Energy in Europe

Scaling up Offshore Wind Energy in Europe

A Proposal to Use Determinants of Annoyance in Wind Farm Planning and Management

Wind energy in Europe is expected to grow at a steady, high pace, but opposition from residents to local wind farm plans is one of the obstacles to further growth. A large body of evidence shows that local populations want to be involved and respected for their concerns, but in practice, this is a complex process that cannot be solved with simple measures, such as financial compensation. The visual presence and the acoustic impact of a wind farm is an important concern for residents. Generally, environmental noise management aims to reduce the exposure of the population, usually based on acoustics and restricted to a limited number of sources (such as transportation or industry) and sound descriptors (such as Lden). Individual perceptions are taken into account only at an aggregate, statistical level (such as percentage of exposed, annoyed or sleep-disturbed persons in the population). Individual perceptions and reactions to sound vary in intensity and over different dimensions (such as pleasure/fear or distraction). Sound level is a predictor of the perceived health effects of sound, but explains only part of the reaction. The positive or negative perception of and attitude to the source of the sound is a better predictor of its effects. This article aims to show how the two perspectives (based on acoustics and on perception) can lead to a combined approach in the management of a wind farm aimed to reduce annoyance, not only on a sound level. An important aspect in this approach is what the sound means to people, leading to the following questions: is it associated with the experience of having no say in plans, does it lead to anxiety or worry and is it appropriate? The available knowledge will be applied to wind farm management, including planning as well as operation.

IMPACT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES CONSUMPTION ON ECONOMIC GROWTH IN EUROPE AND ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

Renewable energy sources have a significant impact on transforming the world fuel and energy balance structure, exacerbating inter-fuel competition. The development of green energy and a low-carbon economy is a priority task of modern energy and foreign economic policy in many countries. However, the consumption of renewable energy is uneven. This is due to the high cost of technologies and equipment and certain «distrust» in alternative fuels and their capabilities. In a framework of this study, the authors evaluated the impact of renewable energy sources on the economic development of Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, which are the primary consumers of these types of energy. The article investigates the dependence of GDP growth on the growth in consumption of fossil and renewable energy sources both in aggregate form and individual types of energy. The detailed calculations made it possible to identify the degree of influence of renewable energy on the economy in several macro-regions and determine the most significant types of energy resources. This statistically confirmed the positive impact of wind energy in Europe and solar energy in the Asia-Pacific region. The obtained regression estimates confirm the positive influence and stimulating effect of renewable energy on Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. The results obtained by the authors are based on data for the period from 1990 to 2017.Keywords: renewable energy sources, fossil fuel, hydrocarbons, economic growth, Europe, Asia-Pacific region, panel data analysis.JEL Classifications: C23, C33, Q2, Q21, Q43.DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.11787

Industry Dynamics and Path Dependencies: Wind Energy in Europe and Asia

Industry dynamics are about stability and change on the field level of analysis. This chapter will use the lens of path dependence to study the emergent field of renewable energy. On this level of analysis, path dependence theory has to address not only technological, but also organizational and institutional dynamics that intricately interact. More specifically, by means of such a multi-dimensional lens, this chapter will look at the increasing generation of electric energy through wind power to illustrate different industry dynamics in four countries. The UK and Japan will illustrate the persistence of an established path in generating electric energy through fossil fuels and nuclear, while the German and, more tenuously, Chinese cases serve as examples for path-breaking change and the conditions making the emergence of renewables, and in particular wind energy possible.

Overcoming Barriers to the Community Acceptance of Wind Energy: Lessons Learnt from a Comparative Analysis of Best Practice Cases across Europe

Empirical evidence has shown that local community opposition is one of the key obstacles for new wind energy development. Consequently, the community acceptance of renewables, such as wind energy, has become a crux for Europe in both achieving and going beyond its renewable energy targets. Significant academic literature has already been devoted to conceptualising the community acceptance of wind energy. This article builds on the existing research by showcasing how regions and municipalities across Europe have successfully and effectively been able to overcome barriers to community acceptance. In doing so, 10 best practice case studies across six European countries have been carefully identified and investigated. The results of individual assessment of these different cases, each of which employ different types of measures/approaches, are comparatively analysed in order to identify the key success factors (drivers) for achieving community acceptance of wind energy in Europe. The identification of the success factors serves to start paving the way for the transfer of these measures/approaches to other municipalities and regions across Europe, particularly those who may encounter similar barriers of community acceptance of wind energy. Thus, our findings deliver to policy makers and developers a number of lessons learnt on how to organise future actions by proposing ways their activities can enhance community acceptance.

Production of diesel from biomass and wind power – Energy storage by the use of the Fischer-Tropsch process

An increasing share of power production from sun and wind energy in Europe led to an increasing interest in novel energy storage technologies. The production of hydrogen from electricity via electrolysis enables the conversion of electrical energy into chemical energy, which can be stored with high energy density, if further process steps are applied. The Fischer-Tropsch process is well-known for the production of diesel fuel from different fuel types. Within the present work, results of an experimental campaign with a laboratory-scale Fischer-Tropsch plant are illustrated. The described experimental campaign was executed to determine the performance of a diesel fuel production from biomass. Furthermore, the investigation included the integration of hydrogen from wind power promoting a combined power-to-gas and biomass-to-liquid process. As a result, the investigated process is aiming at the storage of wind energy by the use of a chemical process enabling high energy density. Therefore, extensive measurement data was collected illustrating the influence of load changes on the operated laboratory-scale Fischer-Tropsch plant. The experimental campaign showed that an increased gas stream feed, enabled by the addition of hydrogen from wind power, leads to an increased output of Fischer-Tropsch products. Furthermore, the executed experimental campaign proved the suitability of different catalysts with respect to fluctuating load changes.

Monitoring Wind in Portugal’s Mountains Down to Microscales

Researchers are now gathered for the Perdigão field campaign, an effort to study wind flow physics at scales down to tens of meters. The effort should help engineers harness wind energy in Europe.

Exploring the macro-scale CO2 mitigation potential of photovoltaics and wind energy in Europe's energy transition

Replacing traditional technologies by renewables can lead to an increase of emissions during early diffusion stages if the emissions avoided during the use phase are exceeded by those associated with the deployment of new units. Based on historical developments and on counterfactual scenarios in which we assume that selected renewable technologies did not diffuse, we conclude that onshore and offshore wind energy have had a positive contribution to climate change mitigation since the beginning of their diffusion in EU27. In contrast, photovoltaic panels did not pay off from an environmental standpoint until very recently, since the benefits expected at the individual plant level were offset until 2013 by the CO2 emissions related to the construction and deployment of the next generation of panels. Considering the varied energy mixes and penetration rates of renewable energies in different areas, several countries can experience similar time gaps between the installation of the first renewable power plants and the moment in which the emissions from their infrastructure are offset.The analysis demonstrates that the time-profile of renewable energy emissions can be relevant for target-setting and detailed policy design, particularly when renewable energy strategies are pursued in concert with carbon pricing through cap-and-trade systems.

Unravelling historical cost developments of offshore wind energy in Europe

This paper aims to provide insights in the cost developments of offshore wind energy in Europe. This is done by analysing 46 operational offshore wind farms commissioned after 2000. An increase of the Capital Expenditures (CAPEX) is found that is linked to the distance to shore and depth of more recent wind farms and commodity prices. Analysis results indicate that these two factors are only responsible for about half of the observed CAPEX increase, suggesting other factors such as turbine market with limited competition also led to an increasing CAPEX. Using CAPEX, Annual Energy Production, Financings costs and Operational Expenditures, the development of average Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCoE) is shown to increase from 120€/MWh in 2000 towards 190€/MWh in 2014, which is a direct result of the CAPEX increase. The results indicate very different LCoE values among European countries, from currently about 100 Euro/MWh in Denmark and Sweden to 150-220 Euro/MWh in all other countries investigated suggesting an effect of national policy frameworks on the LCoE of offshore wind energy.

Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis of a Wind Power Generation System at Búrfell in Iceland

Wind energy harnessing is a new energy production alternative in Iceland. Current installed wind power in Iceland sums to 1.8 MW, which in contrast is 0.1% of the country’s total electricity production. This article is dedicated to the exploration of the potential cost of wind energy production at Búrfell in the south of Iceland. A levelized cost of energy (LCOE) approach was applied to the estimation of the potential cost. Weibull simulation is used to simulate wind data for calculations. A confirmation of the power law is done by comparing real data to calculated values. A modified Weibull simulation is verified by comparing results with actual on-site test wind turbines. A wind farm of 99MWis suggested for the site. Key results were the capacity factor (CF) at Búrfell being 38.15% on average and that the LCOE for wind energy was estimated as 0.087–0.088 USD/kWh (assuming 10% weighted average cost of capital (WACC)), which classifies Búrfell among the lowest LCOE sites for wind energy in Europe.

2013 JRC Wind Status Report

This report presents key technology, market and economic aspects of wind energy in Europe and beyond. During 2012 the wind energy sector saw a new record in actual installations and also a negative record year for the economics of its manufacturing sector. 2013, by contrast, saw a reduction in turbine installations but a better perspective for the economics of the sector. The global market reached 45 GW of installed capacity in 2012 of which 1.4 GW offshore, whereas in Europe 11.9 GW installed beat the 2009 record of 10.2 GW, with the offshore market also marking a new record with 1.275 GW. Global cumulative installed capacity reached 285 GW at the end of 2012 and, according to preliminary reports, it reached around 320 GW by the end of 2013. The installed capacity at the end of 2012 in the EU produces 203 TWh of electricity on an average year.From a technology point of view in 2013 the outstanding results of the TWENTIES project for wind integration deserves credit. They showed e.g. that up to 15% more electricity can be transported in existing lines with minimum operational and technological improvements, and up to 25% more in newly-designed lines using new but within-reach technologies.In 2012 both turbine and project prices onshore dropped, and 2013 showed the first indications that a 40% reduction in offshore cost is within reach by 2020. The analysis of data from IEAWind (2013) suggests that the average “Western” (i.e. without Chinese or Indian project data) wind project capital investment was 1510 €/kW in 2012, a reduction of 4% over the 1 580 €/kW of 2011, and the average turbine cost was 940 €/kW in 2012, a 6% reduction over the 998 €/kW of 2011. Calculations based on different sources suggest a significant reduction for 2013 to perhaps €1 410/kW.

EWEC 2007: a way forward for Europe

After the dust has settled on May's EWEC event in Milan, what now for wind energy in Europe? Christian Kjaer, ceo of EWEA talks to Renewable Energy Focus about his hopes – and fears – for the wind industry as it enters a critical phase in its development. David Hopwood poses the questions.

Wind Energy: Status and Trends

AbstractInstalled wind energy capacity has been increasing rapidly worldwide over the last 5 years and now exceeds 70 GW. Wind energy contributes up to 18.5% of electricity consumption in Denmark and about 3% in Europe. Wind energy is economically competitive at good wind sites, can be rapidly deployed compared to conventional sources and contributes to the goal of meeting increasing electricity demand while reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. This article discusses current wind energy technology and how it is being deployed, particularly in Europe. There are many factors involved in both the cost and the price of wind energy that are explained in brief. The status of wind energy in Europe, around the world and offshore are listed. Finally, some selected research areas such as wind speed profiles, climatic variations and wind turbine wakes are outlined, together with barriers to wind energy development.

A variance analysis of the capacity displaced by wind energy in Europe

AbstractWind energy generation distributed all over Europe is less variable than generation from a single region. To analyse the benefits of distributed generation, the whole electrical generation system of Europe has been modelled including varying penetrations of wind power. The model is chronologically simulating the scheduling of the European power plants to cover the demand at every hour of the year. The wind power generation was modelled using wind speed measurements from 60 meteorological stations for 1 year. The distributed wind power also displaces fossil‐fuelled capacity. However, every assessment of the displaced capacity (or a capacity credit) by means of a chronological model is highly sensitive to single events. Therefore the wind time series was shifted by integer days against the load time series, and the different results were aggregated. The same set of results is shown for two other options, one where the pump storage plants are used more aggressively and the other where all German nuclear plants are shut off. NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data have been used to recreate the same averaged time series from a data set spanning 34 years. Through this it is possible to set the year studied in detail into a longer‐term context. The results are that wind energy can contribute more than 20% of the European demand without significant changes in the system and can replace conventional capacity worth about 10% of the installed wind power capacity. The long‐term reference shows that the analysed year is the worst case for wind power integration. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley &Sons, Ltd.

Offshore Wind Energy in Europe— A Review of the State‐of‐the‐Art

AbstractAfter several decades of theoretical developments, desk studies, experimental wind turbines and prototype wind farms, the first large‐scale commercial developments of offshore wind farms are now being built. To support and accelerate this development, the European Commission funded a project, ‘Concerted Action on Offshore Wind Energy in Europe’ (CA‐OWEE), which aimed to gather, evaluate, synthesize and distribute knowledge on all aspects of offshore wind energy, including offshore technology, electrical integration, economics, environmental impacts and political aspects. The partners are from a wide range of fields and include developers, utilities, consultants, research institutes and universities. This article reports on the final conclusions of this project, with the complete report being available online at http://www.offshorewindenergy.org. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Offshore wind in Europe: The current state of the art

After several decades of theoretical developments, desk studies, experimental wind turbines and prototype windfarms, the first large-scale commercial developments of offshore windfarms are now being built. To support and accelerate this development, the European Commission funded a project, ‘Concerted Action on Offshore Wind Energy in Europe’ (CA-OWEE), which aimed to gather and distribute knowledge on all aspects of offshore wind energy, including: offshore technology, electrical integration, economics, environmental impacts and political aspects. The partners are from a wide range of fields and include developers, utilities, consultants, research institutes and universities. Andrew R. Henderson, Section Wind Energy, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands and other authors give an overview of the findings of the project.

Offshore windpower: a major new source of energy for Europe

After several decades of theoretical developments, desk studies, experimental wind turbines and prototype wind farms, the first large-scale commercial developments of offshore wind farms are now being built. To support and accelerate this development, the European Commission funded a project, Concerted Action on Offshore Wind Energy in Europe (CA-OWEE), which aimed to gather, evaluate, synthesise and distribute knowledge on all aspects of offshore wind energy, including offshore technology, electrical integration, economics, environmental impacts and political aspects. The partners are from a wide range of fields and include developers, utilities, consultants, research institutes and universities. This paper reports on the final conclusions of this project, with the complete report being available online at http//www.offshorewindenergy.org.

The status and prospects for wind energy

This paper reviews developments in the utilisation of wind energy in Europe over the past decade, and examines the current status of the technology, its implementation and the growing industry in the sector. It further considers the potential that wind energy has to contribute towards our future energy supplies, its cost in comparison to other conventional forms of generation, environmental benefits and environmental and other issues which may prevent this potential from being fully realised.