The Consequences of Air Density Variations over Northeastern Scotland for Offshore Wind Energy Potential

Alain Ulazia, Ander Nafarrate, Gabriel Ibarra-Berastegi, Jon Sáenz and Sheila Carreno-Madinabeitia
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Alain Ulazia: Department of NE and Fluid Mechanics, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Otaola 29, 20600 Eibar, Spain
Ander Nafarrate: Department of NE and Fluid Mechanics, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Otaola 29, 20600 Eibar, Spain
Gabriel Ibarra-Berastegi: Department of NE and Fluid Mechanics, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Alda. Urkijo, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
Jon Sáenz: Joint Research Unit (UPV/EHU-IEO) Plentziako Itsas Estazioa, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Areatza Hiribidea 47, 48620 Plentzia, Spain
Sheila Carreno-Madinabeitia: Meteorology Area, Energy and Environment Division, TECNALIA R&I, Basque Country, Spain

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 13, 1-18

Abstract: Hywind-Scotland is a wind farm in Scotland that for many reasons is at the leading edge of technology and is located at a paradigmatic study area for offshore wind energy assessment. The objective of this paper is to compute the Capacity Factor ( C F ) changes and instantaneous power generation changes due to seasonal and hourly fluctuations in air density. For that reason, the novel ERA5 reanalysis is used as a source of temperature, pressure, and wind speed data. Seasonal results for winter show that C F values increase by 3% due to low temperatures and denser air, with economical profit consequences of tens of thousands (US$). Hourly results show variations of 7% in air density and of 26% in power generation via FAST simulations, emphasizing the need to include air density in short-term wind energy studying.

Keywords: ERA5; air density; offshore wind energy; FAST; Scotland (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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