The Consequences of Air Density Variations over Northeastern Scotland for Offshore Wind Energy Potential
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 (<inline-formula> <math display="inline&q...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-07-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/13/2635 |
| _version_ | 1811300556382142464 |
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| author | Alain Ulazia Ander Nafarrate Gabriel Ibarra-Berastegi Jon Sáenz Sheila Carreno-Madinabeitia |
| author_facet | Alain Ulazia Ander Nafarrate Gabriel Ibarra-Berastegi Jon Sáenz Sheila Carreno-Madinabeitia |
| author_sort | Alain Ulazia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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 (<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>C</mi> <mi>F</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>) 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 <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>C</mi> <mi>F</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T06:53:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4713e0ac933c4735b9452441143e4bcd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T06:53:04Z |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-4713e0ac933c4735b9452441143e4bcd2022-12-22T02:57:20ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732019-07-011213263510.3390/en12132635en12132635The Consequences of Air Density Variations over Northeastern Scotland for Offshore Wind Energy PotentialAlain Ulazia0Ander Nafarrate1Gabriel Ibarra-Berastegi2Jon Sáenz3Sheila Carreno-Madinabeitia4Department of NE and Fluid Mechanics, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Otaola 29, 20600 Eibar, SpainDepartment of NE and Fluid Mechanics, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Otaola 29, 20600 Eibar, SpainDepartment of NE and Fluid Mechanics, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Alda. Urkijo, 48013 Bilbao, SpainJoint Research Unit (UPV/EHU-IEO) Plentziako Itsas Estazioa, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Areatza Hiribidea 47, 48620 Plentzia, SpainMeteorology Area, Energy and Environment Division, TECNALIA R&I, Basque Country, SpainHywind-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 (<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>C</mi> <mi>F</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>) 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 <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>C</mi> <mi>F</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> 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.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/13/2635ERA5air densityoffshore wind energyFASTScotland |
| spellingShingle | Alain Ulazia Ander Nafarrate Gabriel Ibarra-Berastegi Jon Sáenz Sheila Carreno-Madinabeitia The Consequences of Air Density Variations over Northeastern Scotland for Offshore Wind Energy Potential Energies ERA5 air density offshore wind energy FAST Scotland |
| title | The Consequences of Air Density Variations over Northeastern Scotland for Offshore Wind Energy Potential |
| title_full | The Consequences of Air Density Variations over Northeastern Scotland for Offshore Wind Energy Potential |
| title_fullStr | The Consequences of Air Density Variations over Northeastern Scotland for Offshore Wind Energy Potential |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Consequences of Air Density Variations over Northeastern Scotland for Offshore Wind Energy Potential |
| title_short | The Consequences of Air Density Variations over Northeastern Scotland for Offshore Wind Energy Potential |
| title_sort | consequences of air density variations over northeastern scotland for offshore wind energy potential |
| topic | ERA5 air density offshore wind energy FAST Scotland |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/13/2635 |
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