A kinetic energy budget perspective to understand efficiency reductions of offshore wind generation in the German Bight in the North Sea

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Minz ◽  
Marc Imberger ◽  
Axel Kleidon ◽  
Jake Badger
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Energy Budget ◽  
German Bight ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
Atmospheric Variables

<p>The European Commission’s net zero decarbonization scenarios estimate that up to 450GW of offshore wind capacity could be installed in Europe by 2050. German energy scenarios estimate that 50 to 70 GW of this could be installed in the German Bight in the North Sea and yield about 4000 full load hours (FLH) per year of power. However, these assume that wind speeds and yields are not reduced by the increased extraction of kinetic energy from the regional atmospheric flow by large wind farms. Our initial assessment of these assumptions, using two different approaches - the simple Kinetic Energy Budget of the Atmosphere model (KEBA) and the Weather Research and Forecasting model with Explicit Wake Parameterization (WRF-EWP), showed that emplacing such a large turbine capacity within the German Bight may lower expected yield down to 3300-3000 FLH. Here, we identify the major factors leading to this reduction. We use the two models to evaluate the role of atmospheric variables like wind directions, atmospheric stability, boundary layer height and surface friction in constraining large scale offshore wind energy generation. We test the KEBA model concept of limited kinetic energy fluxes through the boundary layer determining generation potential, and investigate deviations between the models to identify limitations of the simpler approach.The WRF model sets our ”best guess” of energy yield from regional wind turbine deployments (at scales of 10<sup>4</sup>km<sup>2</sup>) since the scale of deployments that we assess are not in operation yet. Our analysis will provide insights about key atmospheric variables that shape regional offshorewind energy potential of the German Bight. We propose that estimating regional wind energy potential should account for atmospheric response.</p>

scholarly journals A decision support system for assessing offshore wind energy potential in the North Sea

Energy Policy ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 541-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Schillings ◽  
Thomas Wanderer ◽  
Lachlan Cameron ◽  
Jan Tjalling van der Wal ◽  
Jerome Jacquemin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support System ◽  
Wind Energy ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Support System ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
Wind Energy Potential

Wind wake effects of large offshore wind farms, an underrated impact on the marine ecosystem?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corinna Schrum ◽  
Naveed Akhtar ◽  
Nils Christiansen ◽  
Jeff Carpenter ◽  
Ute Daewel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Offshore Wind Farms ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
Ocean Hydrodynamics

<p>The North Sea is a world-wide hot-spot in offshore wind energy production and installed capacity is rapidly increasing. Current and potential future developments raise concerns about the implications for the environment and ecosystem. Offshore wind farms change the physical environment across scales in various ways, which have the potential to modify biogeochemical fluxes and ecosystem structure. The foundations of wind farms cause oceanic wakes and sediment fluxes into the water column. Oceanic wakes have spatial scales of about O(1km) and structure local ecosystems within and in the vicinity of wind farms. Spatially larger effects can be expected from wind deficits and atmospheric boundary layer turbulence arising from wind farms. Wind disturbances extend often over muliple tenths of kilometer and are detectable as large scale wind wakes. Moreover, boundary layer disturbances have the potential to change the local weather conditions and foster e.g. local cloud development. The atmospheric changes in turn changes ocean circulation and turbulence on the same large spatial scales and modulate ocean nutrient fluxes. The latter directly influences biological productivity and food web structure. These cascading effects from atmosphere to ocean hydrodynamics, biogeochemistry and foodwebs are likely underrated while assessing potential and risks of offshore wind.</p><p>We present latest evidence for local to regional environmental impacts, with a focus on wind wakes and discuss results from observations, remote sensing and modelling.  Using a suite of coupled atmosphere, ocean hydrodynamic and biogeochemistry models, we quantify the impact of large-scale offshore wind farms in the North Sea. The local and regional meteorological effects are studied using the regional climate model COSMO-CLM and the coupled ocean hydrodynamics-ecosystem model ECOSMO is used to study the consequent effects on ocean hydrodynamics and ocean productivity. Both models operate at a horizontal resolution of 2km.</p>

scholarly journals How much atmospheric dynamics do we need to capture yield reductions from proposed large wind parks in the German Bight?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Minz ◽  
Marc Imberger ◽  
Jake Badger ◽  
Axel Kleidon
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Energy Budget ◽  
German Bight ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Atmospheric Dynamics ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Wind Park ◽  
Large Wind

<p>German energy scenarios expect 50 - 70 GW of wind turbine capacity to be installed in the German Bight by 2050. Such deployments were expected to yield ∼4000 full load hours (FLH) per year, owing to higher wind speeds compared to land. However, a recent reevaluation of these estimates using the Weather Research and Forecasting model with Explicit Wake Parameterization (WRF-EWP) and the Kinetic Energy Budget of the Atmosphere model (KEBA) found that if the proposed deployments are installed, yield per turbine could be as low as 3000 - 3500 FLH per year, although the total yield still increases. Whereas WRF represents a comprehensive physical representation of atmospheric dynamics, KEBA is an simple approximation of complex atmospheric processes. It states that it is the fixed kinetic energy budget of the boundary layer volume encompassing the wind park which determines large wind park (order of10<sup>4</sup>km<sup>2</sup>) yields rather than just wind speeds. This budget is a function of park geometry and boundary layer heights. Increasing the number of turbines within the wind park removes more kinetic energy from the budget. This leads to slower wind speeds and lower overall yields. The estimates from both approaches were within 20% of each other. Here, we examine these results in greater detail to uncover key atmospheric constraints on the performance of large offshore wind parks. We investigate the role of atmospheric variables like wind direction, atmospheric stability, boundary layer height and surface friction on large scale generation by comparing the estimates of the two modelling approaches. We consider the WRF simulations of large-scale wind power generation and atmospheric circulation as the most realistic available representation, since farms of the scale considered in this study are not yet in operation. We also test the underlying assumptions of KEBA and hence the limits of its applicability. Through a detailed comparison of the two approaches we will provide insights into the effectiveness of KEBA. We posit that estimates of regional wind energy potential need to account for large wind park - atmosphere interactions which may constrain large wind park yields. Our analysis will provide policy makers with a simple yet physically representative tool for making robust predictions of future offshore wind park performance, thereby enabling the design of better energy policies.</p>

A cadmium budget for the German Bight in the North Sea

1997 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 375-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Radach ◽  
K. Heyer
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
German Bight ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Sea

Accessibility assessment for operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms in the North Sea

Wind Energy ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 637-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Martini ◽  
Raúl Guanche ◽  
Iñigo J. Losada ◽  
César Vidal
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Offshore Wind Farms ◽  
The North ◽  
Operation And Maintenance ◽  
The North Sea

scholarly journals Evidence for the effects of decommissioning man-made structures on marine ecosystems globally: a systematic map protocol

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anaëlle J. Lemasson ◽  
Antony M. Knights ◽  
Murray Thompson ◽  
Gennadi Lessin ◽  
Nicola Beaumont ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Evidence Synthesis ◽  
Marine Ecosystem ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Systematic Map ◽  
Management Options ◽  
The North ◽  
Ecosystem Effects ◽  
Published Evidence ◽  
The North Sea

Abstract Background Numerous man-made structures (MMS) have been installed in various parts of the ocean (e.g. oil and gas structures, offshore wind installations). Many are now at, or nearing, the end of their intended life. Currently, we only have a limited understanding of decommissioning effects. In many locations, such as the North Sea, regulations restrict decommissioning options to complete removal, with little consideration of alternative management options might offer. To generate a reliable evidence-base to inform the decision-making processes pertaining to marine MMS management, we propose a wide-encompassing systematic map of published research on the ecosystem effects (including ecosystem services) of marine MMS while in place and following cessation of operations (i.e. including effects of alternative decommissioning options). This map is undertaken as part of the UKRI DREAMS project which aims to develop a system to show the relative effects of implementing different decommissioning strategies in the North Sea. Method For the purpose of this map, we will keep our focus global, in order to subsequently draw comparisons between marine regions. The proposed map will aim to answer the following two primary questions: 1. What published evidence exists for the effects of marine man-made structures while in place on the marine ecosystem? 2. What published evidence exists for the effects of the decommissioning of marine man-made structures on the marine ecosystem? The map will follow the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence Guidelines and Standards for Evidence Synthesis in Environmental Management. Searches will be run primarily in English in at least 13 databases and 4 websites. Returns will be screened at title/abstract level and at full-text against pre-defined criteria. Relevant meta-data will be extracted for each study included. Results will be used to build a database of evidence, which will be made freely available. This map, expected to be large, will improve our knowledge of the available evidence for the ecosystem effects of MMS in the global marine environment. It will subsequently inform the production of multiple systematic-reviews and meta-analyses.

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