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One of the most crucial solutions to the issues of climate change and global warming is clean energy. However, creating intelligent, resilient, and sustainable systems is a worldwide problem, particularly for grid-connected Renewable Energy Systems (RES). Therefore, it is important to investigate how prospective changes in electricity pricing, renewable energy sources, and load demand could affect system performance during the projects. This paper presents a techno-economic analysis of a grid-connected wind energy system located in the Al-Jouf region in Saudi Arabia. To this end, the potential of renewable energy sources was assessed using Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Electric Renewables (HOMER) software, that also carried out the technical and economic study utilizing multi-year parameters. The novelty of this study is that it is the first-ever investigation of a grid-connected wind farm system in Saudi Arabia that considers the impact of multi-year parameters such as the grid price, system fixed operation, maintenance cost, and the AC electric load. The results showed that the proposed system in the chosen area recorded a very low Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of around 0.06 USD/kWh compared to other systems. Also, running a multi-year model showed that the considered parameters have an impact on the system's performance, and this reflects the importance of considering these parameters in any such system that will increase the study's accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for renewable energy sources is recently necessitated by attaining sustainability and climate change mitigation. Accordingly, the use of renewable energy sources has been growing rapidly during the last two decades. Yet, the potentials of renewable energy sources are generally influenced by several climatic factors that either determine the source of energy such as wind speed in the case of wind power or affect the performance of system such as the reduction in solar PV power production due to temperature increase. This highlights the need for assessing climate change impacts on renewable energy sources in the future to ensure their reliability and sustainability. This paper is intended to assess impacts of climate change on wind and solar potential energy in Egypt by the year 2065 under RCP 8.5 scenario. For this purpose, a GIS-based methodology of three main steps was applied. The results revealed that solar energy potential in Egypt is expected to be relatively less vulnerable to climate change compared to wind energy. In this respect, it was found that while wind energy potential was estimated to range ± 12%. By the year 2065 under RCP 8.5 scenario, PV module power is expected to decrease by about 1.3% on average. Such assessment can assist in developing more sustainable and flexible renewable energy policy in Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to study the current regulation and governance of wind energy turbines on the high seas and detect regulatory challenges. We focus on the existing regulatory framework to develop marine wind farms in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), the nature of wind farms and wind turbines in said areas, and which governance schemes and institutions ought to coordinate and regulate any future marine wind energy development. Our research shows that under public international law, the deployment of wind turbines on (most parts of) the high seas for all States is possible, but many issues still remain, either thinly regulated or unanswered. We inquire where, by whom, and how can marine wind parks be built on the high seas according to public international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (the LOSC). Lastly, we evaluate the possible role of marine spatial planning (MSP) in developing wind energy on the high seas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development and climate change mitigation policies, Dunlap and Fairhead argue, have instigated and renewed old conflicts over land and natural resources, deploying military techniques of counterinsurgency to achieve land control. Wind energy development, a popular tool of climate change mitigation policies, has consequently generated conflict in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (Istmo) region in Oaxaca, Mexico. Research is based on participant observation and 20 recorded interviews investigating the Fuerza y Energía Bíi Hioxo Wind Farm on the outskirts of Juchitán de Zaragoza. This paper details the repressive techniques employed by state, private and informal authorities against popular opposition to the construction of the Bíi Hioxo wind park on communal land. Providing background on Juchitán, social property and counterinsurgency in Southern Mexico, this paper analyzes the development of the Bíi Hioxo wind park. It further explores the emergence of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ counterinsurgency techniques used to pacify resistance against the wind park, enabling its completion next to the Lagoon Superior in October 2014. Discussing the ‘greening of counterinsurgency’, this contribution concludes that the Bíi Hioxo wind park has spawned social divisions and violent conflict, and intervened in the sensitive cultural fabric of Istmeño life. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Wind parks are widely propagated as 'a solution' or in many ways as 'a gift' to mitigate climate change and instigate economic growth, which should be 'rolled inside community gates' through new legislation enabling investments. This paper dissects two experiences of wind energy development in Crete, Greece and Oaxaca, Mexico, exploring key commonalities and differences. It demonstrates that land/green grabbing, but more specifically 'accumulation by wind energy', is taking place in both regions. The specific processes and outcomes of 'accumulation by wind energy' differ according to the socio-political and ecological context of each case. There are, however, various similarities in logics, methods and strategies facilitating accumulation by wind energy that reveal defining features and similar outcomes. Wind energy development in Crete and Oaxaca is continuing the existing trajectory of energy extraction companies, resulting in an intensification of existing income-inequality, ecological degradation and social conflict, whilst spreading coercive cultural change. Based on these cases and critical (wind park) literature, we argue, that in actuality wind energy development represents a 'Trojan horse' for capitalism's ongoing growth intensifying socio-ecological crisis through 'accumulation by wind energy'. Wind parks serve as 'Trojan horses' for, amongst others, corporate land grabbing and temporarily mediating capitalism's key contradictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of green technology in the world is progressing extremely rapidly. New possibilities for obtaining energy from renewable sources are constantly being sought and existing solutions are being improved. The multifaceted potential of the seas and oceans is an important aspect being taken into account in the development of the energy systems of a number of economies. One dimension of action in this area is the orientation towards offshore wind energy and the construction of offshore wind farms for this purpose. The purpose of this article is to analyse the importance of offshore wind farms in Poland's energy system and to assess public perception of the changes taking place in this dimension. The article is based on research and critical analysis of the available literature, legal regulations and industry reports, as well as on the results of our own surveys, the scientific findings of which were developed with the application of statistical instruments using PQstat software, ensuring the expected quality of results. The findings of the article indicate the significant importance of offshore wind farms in the creation of Poland's energy mix, with differing public attitudes towards their construction. Furthermore, the results of the research indicate a differentiated attitude of society towards the construction of offshore wind farms. The main motivation for majority support of the measure in question are economic reasons, which are connected with the expectation of a real price reduction per 1 kW of energy, as well as increased attractiveness of the region due to investments in this area. The main concern with the measure relates to environmental aspects, with concerns about the functioning of ecosystems in light of the construction and subsequent operation of wind farms. Negative public opinion is also signalled in relation to the potential risk of landscape change in a direction that is undesirable for the studied developed coastal tourist region in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing concern regarding climate change, the integration of renewable electric technologies into the grid has taken on increased importance over the past decade. In particular, the integration of wind energy is increasing the attention paid to power transmission investment planning, generation adequacy, and secure system operation. This attention calls for the development of new tools that can simultaneously address the economics, transmission, ancillary services, and reserve requirements associated with wind energy. This paper proposes a method for choosing the optimal plan for expanding transmission and generation considering optimal power flow, discrete plant sizes, and the resource variability of wind energy. The method minimizes total cost, i.e., the sum of the construction cost and the operation cost, to fulfill expected load. Due to the nature of transmission expansion planning and the economies of scale associated with conventional power plants, finding the expansion plan is an integer programming problem solved by a branch and bound method. The proposed method is tested by applying it to a nine-bus system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the influence of dust and extreme dust events in the renewable energy generation in the island of Tenerife has been studied. Two different models have been proposed: one model to estimate the influence of atmospheric Particulate Matter (PM) in the Photovoltaic (PV) generation, and a second model that captures the influence of a set of weather and temporal variables, including PM, in the renewable generation of the island. Additionally, the hypothetic situation of extreme dust events occurring in a future 100% renewable electric system in the island of Tenerife is analyzed. Results show the interconnections between PM2.5, PM10 and wind resources on the present and future power output in the Island, and how the future storage capabilities need to take into account these events for a necessary increase in resilience related to climate change and related extreme weather events. • Extreme dust events in renewable energy generation for islands is studied. • Models are based on the influence of atmospheric PM in the PV generation. • The hypothetic situation in a future 100% renewable electric system is analyzed. • Results show the interconnections between PM2.5, PM10 and wind resources. • Storage capabilities need to take into account for a necessary increase in resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of wind power has gained prominence on the world stage, especially in Brazil. In addition to generating energy free of emissions, wind technology is the second cheapest generation option in Brazil. At the same time, it has contributed to reducing hydrological vulnerability caused by climate variation. Although wind power has experienced a steady expansion in the last decade, recent poor outcomes of wind auctions produced uncertainty about the future of this technology in the country. This paper analyses the influence of contract mechanisms used in Brazilian energy auctions for the growth of wind generation. To do this, a scenario analysis based on a hybrid simulation model is used, combining agent-based modelling (ABM) and system dynamics (SD). From the hybrid simulation, the effect of the wind project cancellation policy is analysed, on the one hand, and different ceiling prices for competing sources in the auctions are assessed, on the other. Moreover, the simulation model shows how hydro conditions affect reserve energy auctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insatiable appetite for non-renewable fossil fuels in the past has resulted in a plethora of anthropogenic climate changes and pollution across the globe, causing serious threats to human beings and the environment. To avoid this contention, greater use of wind energy could be the solution for economic growth and sustainable environment, in the long run. This paper discusses the ways in which India has started the growth of wind energy and the country’s potential to expand its contribution to meet ever-increasing energy needs. The paper lucidly presents India’s progress to become the top five wind energy producers in the world. This paper also discusses the major achievements, programs, policy, and incentives for the installation of wind power in India. Opportunities and challenges have been discussed along with the ways to remove barriers to achieve higher growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing interest on how climate change may affect the energy sector, including changes in wind energy generation. This paper builds on existing research adding an economic component that considers how climate change can affect operating margins and investment values in specific wind farms in Spain. A projection of wind speed was carried out using an ensemble of three climate models, two scenarios (RCP 4.5 and 8.5) and two time periods (2018–2041 and 2042–2065) per plant. Using historical power curves, the changes in wind speed were converted to production output. The results show variations in production of up to 8% and changes in operating margins up to 10%. Seasonal generation may fluctuate as well, with an increase in summer and decrease in winter. An investment analysis was also conducted to consider how climate change may influence future developments in the sector. • Climate change will affect wind speed and therefore wind energy production. • In four wind farms in Spain we project variations in wind speed of up to ± 5%. • This will imply changes in production (±8%) and in operative margins (±10%). • The regulatory framework is more relevant in comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy and climate crises are driving renewable energy, but it is currently facing obstacles in leading countries. Balancing environmental, social and economic interests has become complex at the regional level due to spatial trade-offs in a contested space. To investigate stakeholder willingness to compromise on a joint ranking on wind and solar energy sites, multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) planning support was explored. Using a two-part stakeholder survey, four groups were identified: 'advocates' who were satisfied with the site ranking (66%), 'realists' who were willing to compromise despite previous disagreement (13%), 'dissenters' not accepting (35%), and 'dogmatists' not engaging. Planning decisions and stakeholder engagement are underpinned by distinct attitudes towards the role of (democratic) planning and sustainable development. The use of trade-off analysis can ensure transparency and trace back stakeholder interests in making planning decisions. However, decision quality factors also need to be considered to ensure a thorough planning reflection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind energy refers to the process of creating electricity using the wind, or air flows that occur naturally in the earth's atmosphere. Considered as a free and low-carbon energy, wind energy source has handy the attention of decision makers around the world. Wind energy has the possibilities of reducing the worlds dependence on fossil fuels and has a very huge potential to impart sustainable development of both climate and energy. This paper is focusing on the wind energy potentials of the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Region of the United States, as a strategic location to develop wind farms that would help mitigate climate change. We used a GIS based approach in identifying suitable locations for wind farms and assessing wind energy potentials as a mitigation to climate change by using a weighted overlay of geospatial layers corresponding to these criteria. Results showed that a wind turbine runs practically emissions-free for 20 years, a viable alternative to burning polluting fossil fuels that offset all emissions within the first 6 months of operation. The Atlantic OCS Region present us with enormous wind energy potentials. Findings in this paper projects that from 2020, wind power alone would save 9.25 billion tons of CO2 every year. On average, each kWh of wind power generated would avoid 600 grams of CO2 (Global Wind Energy Council). Renewable energy would help mitigate climate change in an excellent way. However, we need sustainability in order to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing climate change requires societies to transition away from fossil fuels toward low-carbon energy, including renewables. Unfortunately, large wind projects have proven politically controversial, with groups opposing them across advanced economies. To date, there are few large-scale, systematic studies to identify the prevalence and predictors of opposition to wind energy projects. Here, we analyzed a dataset of wind energy projects across the United States and Canada between 2000 and 2016. We found that during this period, in the United States, 17% of wind projects faced significant opposition, and in Canada, 18% faced opposition, with rates in both countries growing over time. Opposition was concentrated regionally in the Northeastern United States and in Ontario, Canada. In both countries, larger projects with more turbines were more likely to be opposed. In the United States, opposition was more likely and more intense in areas with a higher proportion of White people, and a smaller proportion of Hispanic people. In Canada, opposition was more likely and more intense in wealthier communities. The most common tactics used to oppose wind energy were court cases, legislation, and physical protests. The number of people engaging in opposition to wind projects is likely small: Across articles that cited the number of individuals engaging in protests, the median number was 23 in the United States and 34 in Canada. When wealthier, Whiter communities oppose wind projects, this slows down the transition away from fossil fuel projects in poorer communities and communities of color, an environmental injustice we call "energy privilege. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges humanity faces globally. For this reason, governmental efforts to reduce emissions of polluting gases have multiplied in the last decade. Against this panorama, petroleum companies have adopted a strategic policy focused on energy diversification, intending to contribute to sustainable development. In the case of Spain, wind energy has been one of the renewable energies that have attracted the most investment from petroleum companies. In particular, this trend is especially acute in Galicia (a region located in the northwest of Spain), since its biophysical conditions and, above all, its institutional framework for the promotion of photovoltaic energy has aroused the interest of petroleum companies. The objective of this article is to perform a feasibility analysis of an average wind project in Galicia. through the calculation of the initial investment, the necessary financing, and the preparation of balance sheets and profit and loss accounts. For this purpose, the methodology used is based on the preparation of a feasibility plan, through which the necessary investment is analyzed and the flows of receipts and payments generated by the company are considered. In this way, this analysis is intended to be useful for companies that are considering the appropriateness/inappropriateness to carry out this type of investment. The results show a high internal rate of return, which indicates the high profitability of the project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind resource in China is abundant due to its vast land mass and long coastline. Based on wind speed and direction records from wind measurement towers at six onshore sites with different geographical climate conditions in China, statistical assessment of wind characteristics and wind energy potential at height of 70 m corresponding to the hub heights of multi-megawatt wind turbines is presented and discussed in this paper. First of all, the Weibull distribution function is verified to be a reliable model for wind speed prediction and the moment method is proved to be an accurate approach for estimation of the Weibull parameters at all the sites. Moreover, the variations of mean wind speed, the Weibull parameters and wind power density at the six sites are investigated in terms of seasonal, monthly and diurnal time scales. Finally, annual energy outputs at the six sites are determined by taking a commercial wind turbine as an example to evaluate the economic feasibility of wind energy development. The results of this study indicate that the six sites in North China, Northeast China, Central China, coastal regions in East China and Southeast China are in rich wind energy areas which are suitable for wind energy utilization. In particular, among the six sites, Tongliao in North China is the most promising location for wind energy development with the maximum annual energy output of 10.33 GWh. The objective of this study is to provide useful information for wind energy development and an effective approach for wind energy potential assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the abundance of wind resources in cold climates, a significant share of the worldwide wind energy installed capacity is located in those areas. However, the advantages of cold climate operation comes with challenges associated with ice accretion. Throughout the years, alternative operational strategies have been developed to cope with these challenges. Although many strategies, such as blade heating, have been commercially available for a long time, few field studies have investigated their performance. Evaluating the performance of wind turbines in cold climates is a hard task due to the lack standards and the variability of external factors influencing turbine behaviour. In this paper, a methodology to assess the performance of wind turbines in cold climates is illustrated with a case study. This methodology aims to provide a better understanding of how ice accretion impacts wind turbine performance. This methodology was exemplified with a case study where the performance of a turbine equipped with a retrofit hot air ice protection system was analyzed over a 9-day icing event. It was found that the usage of the cold climate solution yielded an average energy gain of 159 MWh and an average potential recovery of 62%. • Proposition of a methodology for assessing the performance of cold climate solutions for wind turbines. • Description of the process of power curve modelling, selection of control turbines and interpretation of icing events. • Case study of a 9-day icing event where the performance of a turbine with an ice protection system is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Society's dependence on weather systems has broadened to include electricity generation from wind turbines. Climate change is altering energy flows in the atmosphere, which will affect the economic potential of wind power. Changes to wind resources and their upstream impacts on the energy industry have received limited academic attention, despite their risks earning interest from investors. We propose a framework for assessing the impact of climate change on the cost of wind energy, going from the change in hourly wind speed distributions from radiative forcing through to energy output and levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) from wind farms. The paper outlines the proof of concept for this framework, exploring the limitations of global climate models for assessing wind resources, and a novel Weibull transfer function to characterise the climate signal. The framework is demonstrated by considering the UK's wind resources to 2100. Results are mixed: capacity factors increase in some regions and decrease in others, while the year-to-year variation generally increases. This highlights important financial and risk impacts which can be adopted into policy to enhance energy system resilience to the impacts of climate change. We call for greater emphasis to be placed on modelling wind resources in climate science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A multi-model and multi-method ensemble approach for wind resource projection is proposed. • Future wind potential in Hong Kong is assessed for the first time. • Robustness of the climate change signal is evaluated. • An increase in wind power density during summer (+23.7 %) and a decrease during autumn (–15.1 %) in 2081–2100 are projected for SSP5-8.5. Harvesting renewable wind energy is among the most cost-efficient means of reducing carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. However, wind resource is susceptible to climate change impacts since the global temperature increase will reshape atmospheric circulation patterns. To facilitate the evaluation of fine-scale wind energy potential under climate variability, this paper proposes and validates a multi-model and multi-method ensemble wind resource projection approach. Then this approach is utilized to investigate the future variation of wind resources in Hong Kong based on the combined use of global climate models from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 and long-term observations from meteorological stations. It is found that there is a significant increase in future wind resources during summer, while a remarkable decline is projected during autumn. Nevertheless, the variations of wind resources in winter and spring are relatively insignificant. The outcomes of this study are expected to offer a framework for fine-scale wind resource assessment under climate change, and facilitate the economic and risk assessments of future wind farm projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investments into wind power generation may be hampered by the uncertainty of future revenues caused by the natural variability of the wind resource, the impact of climate change on wind potential and future electricity prices, and the regulatory risks. We quantify the uncertainty of the economic value of wind farms in France, Germany, and Denmark, and evaluate the cost of support mechanisms needed to ensure the profitability of wind farms under present and future climates. To this end, we built a localised model for wind power output and a country-level model for electricity demand and prices. Our study reveals that support mechanisms are needed for current market conditions and the current climate, as well as under future climate conditions according to several scenarios for climate change and energy transition. The cost of support mechanisms during a 15-year period is evaluated to EUR 3.8 to EUR 11.5 billion per year in France, from EUR 15.5 to EUR 26.5 billion per year in Germany, and from EUR 1.2 to EUR 3.3 billion per year in Denmark, depending on the scenario considered and the level of penetration of wind energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study analyzes pro-wind, “anti-environmental” discourses prevalent among key stakeholders in Nolan County, Texas, the epicenter of US wind power. We draw upon interviews conducted within a Q-method study to examine environmental views held by key actors in wind-farm development. We frame our analysis within the theoretical field that engages the formation of environmental subjects, defined as the process through which individuals and communities align their environmental practices with state ends. We argue that this is a process that can be incomplete or in tension with other subject positions, which together may lead to unexpected environmental views. We introduce “environmental skepticism,” defined as a rejection of ecological science steeped in deep anthropocentrism and possessive individualism, as a dominant counter-narrative informing certain environmental subjectivities. The remainder of the paper describes Texas wind stakeholders’ views or subject positions on energy and the environment and reveals how environmental skepticism is not overturned even as renewable energy supports the local economy. We analyze wind stakeholders’ environmental subjectivity in terms of emergent subject positions as “reflexive environmental skepticism,” a view that accepts the economic products, processes, and policy innovations advocated by ecological modernization without accepting the core claim that innovations are required to adapt to environmental change. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The world driven by the concern for climate change and by growing prices for fossil fuels is trying to make a more drastic shift towards renewable energy sources (RES). The Kyoto Protocol mechanisms are considered to assist this process in both developed and developing countries. The scope of this paper is to analyze the so far gained experience by the implementation of the clean development mechanism (CDM), in order to investigate its role in the formation of wind energy markets in developing countries. For this purpose we make a brief overview of existing incentives for the RES support within hosting countries. Then, we exploit the available CDM databases in order to identify the influence of CDM activities on the development of the corresponding wind energy markets. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Recent years have seen growing academic interest in the concept of induced diffusion as efforts to address concerns about energy security and climate change have intensified. Research on induced diffusion explores whether policy tools or interventions can incentivise the diffusion of innovations. This body of literature has explored the effectiveness and efficiency of various policy interventions and as such has been mainly concerned with the determinants of diffusion. This paper is, by way of contrast, concerned with the patterns of diffusion when diffusion is induced. Drawing on the Bass and Davies models of innovation diffusion we develop a number of propositions that suggest that the patterns of diffusion are different when policy plays a role in the diffusion process. These propositions are then econometrically tested in the context of the international diffusion of wind energy in 25 OECD countries. We find that, as predicted, without effective and strong policy interventions, countries will have conventional logistic diffusion with very similar speeds of diffusion. However, as expected the patterns of diffusion take on a different functional form (Bass curve) when there is a strong policy inducement. We conclude by discussing the implications and limitations of these results and suggesting avenues for further research. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

There is considerable interest in the potential impact of climate change on wind energy in China. The climate change of near-surface wind energy potential in China under the background of global warming and its association with anthropogenic land-use changes are investigated by calculating the difference in surface wind speeds between the NCEPINCAR reanalysis data and the observations since the re- analysis dataset contains the influence of large-scale climate changes due to greenhouse gases, it is less sensitive to regional surface processes associated with land types. The surface wind data in this study consist of long-term observations from 604 Chinese Roution Meteorological Stations and the NCEPINCAR reanalysis data from 1960-1999. The results suggest that the observed mean wind speeds signif icantly weakened and the near-surface wind power trended downward due to urbanization and other land-use changes in the last 40 years. The mean wind energy weakened by -3.84 W•m-2 per decade due to the influence of anthropogenic land-use change, which is close to the observed climate change (-4.51 W•m-2/1 0 a). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article maps the interconnections between two emergent resource frontiers in Ireland: wind and data. Adding to literature about extraction and extractivism, we account for how these expanded extractive frontiers are mobilised within self-sustaining and automated formations. In Ireland, digital infrastructures such as data centres are developed by multinational tech companies to avail of a naturally cool climate and business environment friendly to their investment, part of a wider extractive system by which data are made valuable for their expansive operations. Wind farms similarly make use of Ireland's climate to generate energy, often used to power digital infrastructures, and are increasingly embedded within 'smart' energy and data systems. Wind and data are seen discretely as 'abundant' resources, their infrastructures built on terra or (offshore) mare nullius, and their operations 'green'. However, their infrastructures are entangled with non-renewable energy systems and tax evasive capital, and built across existing communities and environments through policy, planning logics and increasingly automated methods of maintenance and optimisation. Through what we call 'the moebius strip of wind/data', wind and data infrastructures are increasingly formidable in dictating our energy futures. In this article, we articulate how they are connected and how we can disentangle them, especially in their operation across urban and rural geographies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews the environmental, ecological, and social impacts of current renewable energy technologies. Problems of these technologies are highlighted in terms of manufacturing, installation, lifetime, and end-of-life. What emerges are concerning issues that need to be urgently addressed as they potentially threaten the recovery of the Earth system and therefore also impact society. It is suggested that many of these issues have been overlooked because of our focus on carbon reduction, which, while important, may lead to a failure to deal with other equally concerning threats, and even exacerbate them. These threats are highlighted and then urgent priorities, in terms of policy, regulation, and research, are identified, paving the way to an energy future that does not threaten the functionality of the Earth system. Finally, key underlying themes are identified that may inform our decision-making as we move forward. If we are to aim for a truly sustainable future, in terms of economics, ecology, and society, this article argues that we must seek to aim higher than current practice and plan for a future that not only arrests anthropogenic climate destabilization and its threat to many species, including our own, but that builds the foundations for ecological recovery. Better-than-before is not good enough. We need energy technologies that minimize our impact on our planet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offshore renewable energy has a high potential for ensuring the successful implementation of the European decarbonization agenda planned for the near future. Hybrid wind-wave farms can reduce installation and maintenance costs, and increase the renewable energy availability of a location by compensating for the wind's intermittent nature with good wave conditions. In addition, wave farms can provide protection to wind farms, and the combined wind/wave farm can provide coastal protection. This work aims to assess the future hybrid wind-wave energy resource for the northwest coast of Iberian Peninsula for the near future (2026–2045), under the RCP 8.5 greenhouse gas emission scenario. This assessment was accomplished by applying a Delphi classification method to define four categories, aiming to evaluate the richness (wind and wave energy availability, downtime), the variability (temporal variation), the environmental risk (extreme events), and cost parameters (water depth and distance to coast) of the wind and wave resources. The combined index (CI), which classifies the hybrid wind-wave resource, shows that most of the NW Iberian Peninsula presents good conditions (CI > 0.6) for exploiting energy from wind and wave resources simultaneously. Additionally, there are some particularly optimal areas (CI > 0.7), such as the region near Cape Roca, and the Galician coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Countries in East Asia have set ambitious goals for the development of wind energy to meet the increasing energy demand and to mitigate anthropogenic climate change. However, few studies have investigated changes in wind energy over East Asia under future climatic conditions. In this study, we investigate future changes of 100‐m wind speed and wind energy potential over the CORDEX‐East Asia region under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario, by using ensemble simulations from the regional climate model Consortium for small‐scale modeling in CLimate Mode (CCLM). A multivariate bias adjustment method based on the N‐dimensional probability density function transform is used to correct raw simulated horizontal wind components. The comparison between future climate (2021–2050 and 2070–2099) and the present climate (1971–2000) shows decreases in wind speed, wind power density, and wind energy output over most of the CORDEX‐East Asia region, especially in the tropics. Projected increases are pronounced over the Himalayan regions, the Indo‐China Peninsula, the South China Sea, and the western Pacific Ocean in summer and over northeastern China, parts of Western China and the Indo‐China Peninsula in winter. Interannual and intra‐annual variability of wind power density are projected to intensify significantly for most of the CORDEX‐East Asia region. The occurrence of weak wind speeds (<3 m/s) is projected to increase, while strong wind speeds (>11 m/s) are projected to decrease over most of the ocean. Key Points: Future changes in 100‐m wind energy potentials over CORDEX‐East Asia are evaluated by using CCLM ensemble simulationsThe multivariate bias adjustment method is used to correct raw simulated wind components and is shown to be robust in reducing biasWind energy potentials are projected to decrease over most of the CORDEX‐East Asia region, especially for 2070–2099 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind energy production is expected to be affected by shifts in wind patterns that will accompany climate change. However, many questions remain on the magnitude and character of this impact, especially on regional scales. In this study, clustering is used to group and analyze large-scale wind patterns in California using model simulations from the variable-resolution Community Earth System Model (VR-CESM). Specifically, simulations have been produced that cover historical (1980–2000), mid-century (2030–2050), and end-of-century (2080–2100) time periods. Once clustered, observed changes to wind patterns can be analyzed in terms of both the change in frequency of those clusters and changes to winds within-clusters. Statistically significant capacity factors changes have been found at all five wind plant sites. Decomposition of the capacity factor changes into frequency changes and within-cluster changes enables a better understanding of their drivers. A further examination of the synoptic-scale fields associated with each cluster then provides a better understanding of how changes to large-scale meteorological fields are important for driving changes in localized wind speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of energy sources will compete to provide the energy services that humans will require over the next 100 years. The balance of these sources will depend upon the availability of fossil fuels and the development of new technologies including renewable energy technologies, and will be one of the keys in projecting greenhouse gas emissions. There is uncertainty about each of the energy sources. With oil, for example, there are two alternate views of future reserves, one that reserves are geologically limited and that supplies will declinewithin a decade or two, the other that there are enormous quantitiesof hydrocarbon in the earth`s crust and that reserves are a functionof developing technology and price. With solar voltaics, as a secondexample, there is optimism that the technology will become increasingly competitive, but there is uncertainty about the rate at which costs can come down and about ultimate cost levels. This paper reviews the reserves of fossil fuels and the prospects for nuclear power and the renewables. It also reviews the main energy conversion technologies that are available now or are expected to become increasingly available through time. However, it should be noted that, over a time horizon of 100 years, there may be quite radical changes in both production and conversion technologies that cannot be predicted and it is quite possible for some as yet unheard of technology to be developed andto transform the markets. The paper has been written to aid the development of new scenarios for the emission of greenhouse gases for theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Urban wind resource assessment in changing climate has not been studied so far. This study presents a methodology for microscale numerical modelling of urban wind resource assessment in changing climate. The methodology is applied for a specific urban development in the city of Toronto, ON, Canada. It is shown that the speed of the southwest winds, that is, the most frequent winds increased for .8 m s-1 in the period from 1948 to 2015. The generated wind energy maps are used to estimate the influences of climate change on the available wind energy. It is shown that the geometry of irregularly spaced and located obstacles in urban environments has to be taken into consideration when performing studies on urban wind resource assessment in changing climate. In the analysed urban environment, peak speeds are more affected by climate change than the mean speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind energy experienced an exponential development in the past two decades, forming a main source of energy today, but also a frequently encountered issue of debate due to the increased proximity of wind turbines to citizens' residence, especially in the case of the Western part of the European Union. Although the benefits of renewable sources of energy represent a compulsory effort towards ensuring sustainable energy strategies for the future, due to the increased pressure of balancing climate change, limitation of traditional energy resources and economic competition, the expansion of wind parks has caused strong reactions of local communities in many regions leading to the reorganization of public exposure strategies of many companies in the field. This research intends to offer a sample of public perceptions of wind turbines depending on several influence factors, based on the answers of 64 Dutch citizens and 40 Romanian respondents. Through the implementation of the Delphi method based on questionnaires and interviews, an overview of perceptions towards placement of wind turbines in the two analyzed countries has been offered, providing significant answers to the influence factors of public reactions for or against wind turbines. The main results of the research revealed the importance of financial benefits in increasing public acceptance of wind farms, as well as several subjective factors, such as the visual impact of wind turbines and onshore or offshore placement, that contribute to a positive or negative behavior of citizens towards it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical utility system operators must plan resources so that electricity supply matches demand throughout the day. As the proportion of wind-generated electricity in the US grows, changes in daily wind patterns have the potential either to disrupt the utility or increase the value of wind to the system over time. Wind power projects are designed to last many years, so at this timescale, climate change may become an influential factor on wind patterns. We examine the potential effects of climate change on the average diurnal power production cycles at 12 locations in North America by analyzing averaged and individual output from nine high-resolution regional climate models comprising historical (1971-1999) and future (2041-2069) periods. A semi-parametric mixed model is fit using cubic B-splines, and model diagnostics are checked. Then, a likelihood ratio test is applied to test for differences between the time periods in the seasonal daily averaged cycles, and agreement among the individual regional climate models is assessed. We investigate the significant changes by combining boxplots with a differencing approach and identify broad categories of changes in the amplitude, shape, and position of the average daily cycles. We then discuss the potential impact of these changes on wind power production. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change threatens all elements of life for people around the world (Stern Review, 2006), it presents the greatest ecological, economic and social challenge of our time (CSIRO, 2009), the chance that it is natural and not manmade is less than 5%, and carbon dioxide emissions contribute to the problem: Australia's biggest export article is coal, more than 80% of Australia's electricity is produced by coal (Australian Coal Association, 2008), and Australians are the largest emitters of greenhouse gases per capita in the developed world (Diesendorf, 2006a; Garnaut, 2008; United Nations Statistics Division - Environment Statistics, 2010). This indicates that there is a need to consider greater use of renewable energies. The creation of more wind farms would be one way of reducing the problem. However, there is controversy and conflict regarding the development of wind farms. From a sociological point of view, Beck's (2007) risk society can be applied to concerns regarding the outcome of 'mine coal, sell coal, repeat until rich' (Pearse, 2010b). This literature review looks at issues surrounding wind energy and the coal industry by using trustworthy published research, by analysing the print media, internet postings, scientific reports, social scientists' opinions, attitudes of philosophers, a Four Corners' television report, government data and the findings of a government inquiry. There is evidence that members of the powerful coal industry play an important part in the anti-wind farm movement in examining: Who are the people behind the scene and what are their motifs? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind and solar energy are projected to be major sources of the world's power in the coming decades. In this study, we first introduce satellite observations for surface solar irradiance and wind, and then discuss using the data for prediction and assessment of energy distribution. Using the current NCEP global forecast model (GFS), the global mean and standard deviation of solar power at the surface for the 5-d forecast are about 212 and 124 W/m, respectively. For a 24-h forecast of a 3-h mean, the relative error is about 30%, and for a prediction of the daily mean, it is about 15%. The relative error of wind power forecasts for a 24-h forecast of a 3-h mean and a daily mean is 70% and 35%, respectively. The reanalysis results based on satellite observations and numerical weather prediction model are also used to study the distribution of solar and wind energy and the variation of the distribution related to climate change. No significant trend in downward solar radiation is found at the surface in the reanalysis data sets. Surface wind power however exhibits a significant positive trend as the global temperature is warming up. A comparison of a decadal mean wind energy between two decades (from 1949 to 1958 vs. from 1999 to 2008) shows that most of Asia had experienced a decrease in surface wind energy. Therefore, decisions about renewable energy developments need to consider such climate change scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microgrids have been significantly developed, enhanced by concerns about climate change and energy security, their decreasing costs and the development of renewable energy sources. However, an important concern is the limited information available to estimate these renewable resources. We develop an optimization model with cost and reliability objective functions for the design and operation of micro-networks using a nested strategy and limited resource information. Design optimization utilizes Genetic Algorithms and 2 objective functions: Expected Energy Not Supplied EENS and Levelized Cost of Energy. In addition, Green House Gas (GHG) emissions are estimated. Operational optimization utilizes Generating Sets Search Algorithm. We include models for wind turbines, solar panels, fuel cells, diesel generators, gas turbines, and battery banks. We address the limited data available for these applications by synthesizing series of wind and solar radiation with basic statistical parameters. Pareto-Optimal trade-off curves between cost and reliability are presented here for an example network. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Landscape ecology focuses on the spatial patterns and processes of ecological and human interactions. These patterns and processes are being altered by both changing resource-management practices of humans and changing climate conditions associated, in part, with increases in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. Dominant resource-extraction and land-management activities involve energy, and the use of fossil energy is one of the key drivers behind increasing greenhouse gas emissions as well as land-use changes. Alternative energy sources (such as wind, solar, nuclear, and bioenergy) are being explored to reduce greenhouse gas emission rates. Yet, energy production, including alternative-energy options, can have a wide range of effects on land productivity, surface cover, albedo, and other factors that affect carbon, water, and energy fluxes and, in turn, climate. Meanwhile, climate influences the potential output, relative efficiencies, and sustainability of alternative energy sources. Thus, land use, climate change, and energy choices are linked, and any comprehensive analysis in landscape ecology that considers one of these factors should be cognizant of these interactions. This analysis explores the implications of linkages between land use, climate hange, and energy and points out ecological patterns and processes that may be affected by their interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), there is a need to carry out in-depth research into the potential for renewable energy as part of international efforts to combat climate change and reduce dependency on fossil fuels. The purpose of this study is to examine long-term wind speed variability using seasonal and annual wind speed data at 32 Iranian synoptic stations from 1960 to 2005 to assess if wind power is a plausible source of renewable energy for Iran. Least-square regression methods and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to determine the trends and decadal changes in wind speed. Esfehan province was selected for assessment of the impacts on wind power potential owing to its progressive and forward thinking in exploration of renewable energy. Wind power potential was estimated by fitting a hybrid of the Weibull distribution to the 3 hourly wind data. This assessment revealed a declining trend in annual wind speeds in the central part of Iran and an increasing trend near the Iranian borders during the study period. The patterns on seasonal and annual scales were generally similar. The results indicated a similar pattern of wind power variation for stations in Esfehan province, except Ardestan. The monthly wind power potential from November to January and from February to May may be representative of the low and high periods of wind energy, respectively. Consequently, despite the existence of wind speed variability and general declining trends across Esfehan province, wind energy may be explored further over the coming years by employing modern wind turbines that require lower start-up speeds. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change can strongly affect renewable energy production. The state of the art in projecting future renewable energy generation has focused on using regional climate prediction. However, regional climate prediction is characterized by inherent uncertainty due to the complexity of climate models. This work provides a comprehensive study to quantify the impact of climate uncertainties in projecting future renewable energy potential over five climate zones of Europe. Thirteen future climate scenarios, including five global climate models (GCMs) and three representative concentration pathways (RCPs), are downscaled by the RCA4 regional climate model (RCM) over 90 years (2010–2099), divided into three 30-year periods. Solar and wind energy production is projected considering short-/long-term climate variations and uncertainties in seven representative cities (Narvik, Gothenburg, Munich, Antwerp, Salzburg, Valencia, and Athens). The results showed that the uncertainty caused by GCMs has the most substantial impact on projecting renewable energy generation. The variations due to GCM selection can become even larger than long-term climate change variations over time. Climate change uncertainties lead to over 23% and 45% projection differences for solar PV and wind energy potential, respectively. While the signal of climate change in solar radiation is weak between scenarios and over time, wind energy generation is affected by 25%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind power is currently the fastest growing renewable technology and will play a significant role in constraining the extent of climate change. However, the very fact that its 'fuel source' is driven by the climate may leave it exposed as climate changes over the coming decades. In this preliminary assessment, the potential for changes in climate to affect the significant onshore wind resource in the United Kingdom (UK) is explored using the regional climate change scenarios published by the UK Climate Impacts Programme in 2002. The scenarios indicate seasonal changes in potential wind production with winter production generally increasing while summer decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind energy is the fastest-growing electricity-generating technology. The wind energy targets set during the last decade have all been surpassed. New targets are proposed for 2010 and 2020, since the existing European Commission and European Wind Energy Association targets do not reflect the trends in the market. Climate change is a major challenge to sustainable development worldwide and is increasingly recognized by forward-looking political and business leaders. One of the tasks we are facing is a profound transformation of our energy system over the next few decades of replacing fossil fuels with renewable energies and dramatically increasing energy efficiency. This article reviews the progress made by wind energy in the last ten years, and discusses the potential of this technology in the European Union and Turkey for the future. The European experience has shown that wind energy today comprises a reliable and cost-effective technology with positive effects on the reduction of CO 2 emissions. This study also shows that Turkey has more wind energy potential and existing wind-electricity-producing companies should be encouraged and supported by the government while new financing mechanisms are needed to promote investment in wind energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concern for climate change is one of the drivers of new, transitional energy policies oriented towards economic growth and energy security, along with reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and preservation of biodiversity. Since 2010, the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) has been publishing annual Global Landscape of Climate Finance reports. According to these reports, US$3660 billion has been spent on global climate change projects over the period 2011–2018. Fifty-five percent of this expenditure has gone to wind and solar energy. According to world energy reports, the contribution of wind and solar to world energy consumption has increased from 0.5% to 3% over this period. Meanwhile, coal, oil, and gas continue to supply 85% of the world's energy consumption, with hydroelectricity and nuclear providing most of the remainder. With this in mind, we consider the potential engineering challenges and environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the main energy sources (old and new). We find that the literature raises many concerns about the engineering feasibility as well as environmental impacts of wind and solar. However, none of the current or proposed energy sources is a "panacea". Rather, each technology has pros and cons, and policy-makers should be aware of the cons as well as the pros when making energy policy decisions. We urge policy-makers to identify which priorities are most important to them, and which priorities they are prepared to compromise on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study is to show a comprehensive assessment of the wind resource dynamics along the Spanish coastal environment of the Iberian Peninsula. After studying the historical resources (reported at 100 m height) for the 20-year period from 1999 to 2018 by analyzing the ERA5 time series of wind speed data, the 10 locations with highest historical wind resources are considered. For these, the study of the future dynamics for the 30-year period from 2021 to 2050 under the climate change scenario RCP 4.5 is carried out. After further selection, mean and maximum values, as well as the seasonal and monthly variability of the wind power density, are obtained for six locations along the Spanish coasts. Furthermore, a performance and economic dynamics assessment is presented for four different wind turbine technologies with rated capacities ranging between 3 and 9.5 MW. A further comparison with other locations in the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea is presented to provide a critical image of the Spanish wind resources dynamics in the European framework. The results indicate a noticeable gain of wind resources in various locations of the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, with others presenting slight losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]