Identification of reliable locations for wind power generation through a global analysis of wind droughts

Wind droughts, or prolonged periods of low wind speeds, pose challenges for electricity systems largely reliant on wind generation. Using weather reanalysis data, we analyzed the global distribution of and trends in wind droughts using an energy deficit metric that integrates the depth and duration of wind droughts. We identified regions with high power densities, low seasonal variability, and limited weather fluctuations that favor wind power generation, such as the American Midwest, Australia, the Sahara, Argentina, Central Asia, and Southern Africa. Northwestern Europe has high power densities but experiences more frequent and prolonged wind droughts due to higher weather variability. We found little evidence for strong trends in wind droughts over recent decades in most places. Rather, the most severe wind droughts in many places occurred before wind power substantially penetrated power systems, which suggests that historical weather data can be useful in designing reliable wind-reliant electricity systems.

Enrico G. A. Antonini, Edgar Virgüez, Sara Ashfaq, Lei Duan, Tyler H. Ruggles, Ken Caldeira