Wind farms close to each other can harm offshore wind power generation
The use of clean energy is growing worldwide. As a result, new investments by governments and companies in the sector will continue to grow on the planet over the next few decades. However, it is necessary that investments are made correctly, in which scientific studies are fundamental for the best choices. A recent study proposed an important factor that can harm offshore wind power generation due to the proximity of wind farms.
A study led by Naveed Akhtar, da Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, from Germany, points out that the production of offshore wind energy can be harmed due to the proximity of offshore wind farms to each other. The study took place in Germany, where it has offshore wind farms that are equivalent to 8 nuclear power plants. However, as space at sea is limited, it is sometimes necessary to install power plants close to each other.
The study released by Nature Scientific Reports points out that the braking effect results in low wind patterns on a large scale. The researchers noticed a reduction of between 20 and 25% of the electricity production in the neighboring wind farms. The wind farm can be up to 40 km away.
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The study took a total of 10 years to observe winds on Mars from northern Germany. The research used the COSMO-CLM model, which is also widely used by meteorological services, to calculate the average speed over 10 years.
"Our results clearly show that we will face a pattern of reduced winds at sea, which show greater intensity during stable weather conditions, normally the case in March and April. In stormy weather, on the other hand – especially in November and December – the atmosphere is so mixed that wind farm wake effects are relatively small.”, the researchers said in a press release.
Scientists will also begin to study the effects of offshore wind farms on sea life.
Scientists will also begin to study what effect reduced winds have on marine life and how it affects them. The world is expected to increase the use of wind energy to gigantic numbers in the coming decades. In the United States, for example, President Biden announced the construction of the country's first large offshore wind farm.