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Recent Development and Future Perspective of Wind Power Generation

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A3: Wind, Wave and Tidal Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2024 | Viewed by 3909

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Dr. Christopher Jung

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Environmental Meteorology, University of Freiburg, Werthmannstrasse 10, 79085 Freiburg, Germany
Interests: renewable energy; wind energy; wind resource assessment; climate change
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue provides a platform for current research developments in the field of wind energy. The global expansion of wind energy has significantly increased in recent years, both onshore and offshore. This growth can be attributed to growing awareness of the need to transition to renewable energy sources, advancements in turbine technology, and increasing investments. Wind energy is already making a substantial contribution to the electricity supply and the reduction in greenhouse gases in many countries. The further development of wind energy depends on various factors, including wind resources, available land, turbine characteristics, investments, and social acceptance.

This Special Issue will consider new and well-organized contributions addressing these factors, recent developments, and future perspectives related to wind energy.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to:

Wind resource and wind potential assessment;

Wind speed and wind power forecasting;

Wind resource availability under climate change;

Challenges of future wind energy expansion;

Socioeconomic factors of wind energy expansion;

Wind turbine design development.

Dr. Christopher Jung
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

wind energy
wind turbines
wind speed
wind power assessment
climate change

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 657 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Offshore Energy Development in Poland—Social and Economic Dimensions

by Ewa Chomać-Pierzecka

Energies 2024, 17(9), 2068; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17092068 - 26 Apr 2024

Viewed by 164

Abstract

The development of green technology in the world is progressing extremely rapidly. New possibilities for obtaining energy from renewable sources are constantly being sought and existing solutions are being improved. The multifaceted potential of the seas and oceans is an important aspect being taken into account in the development of the energy systems of a number of economies. One dimension of action in this area is the orientation towards offshore wind energy and the construction of offshore wind farms for this purpose. The purpose of this article is to analyse the importance of offshore wind farms in Poland’s energy system and to assess public perception of the changes taking place in this dimension. The article is based on research and critical analysis of the available literature, legal regulations and industry reports, as well as on the results of our own surveys, the scientific findings of which were developed with the application of statistical instruments using PQstat software, ensuring the expected quality of results. The findings of the article indicate the significant importance of offshore wind farms in the creation of Poland’s energy mix, with differing public attitudes towards their construction. Furthermore, the results of the research indicate a differentiated attitude of society towards the construction of offshore wind farms. The main motivation for majority support of the measure in question are economic reasons, which are connected with the expectation of a real price reduction per 1 kW of energy, as well as increased attractiveness of the region due to investments in this area. The main concern with the measure relates to environmental aspects, with concerns about the functioning of ecosystems in light of the construction and subsequent operation of wind farms. Negative public opinion is also signalled in relation to the potential risk of landscape change in a direction that is undesirable for the studied developed coastal tourist region in Poland. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development and Future Perspective of Wind Power Generation)

22 pages, 8552 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Winds of Change: A Study on the Resource Viability of Offshore Wind Energy in Montenegro

by Miloš Bogdanović and Špiro Ivošević

Energies 2024, 17(8), 1852; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17081852 - 12 Apr 2024

Viewed by 378

Abstract

The energy produced from renewable sources (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass) provides direct access to clean and safe energy. Offshore wind energy, generated through wind farms, has traditionally relied on fixed structures, whereas innovative floating structures have been commercially applied since 2017. This study investigates offshore areas in Montenegro suitable for wind farm construction. Research on average annual wind speeds has successfully identified a surface area deemed suitable for constructing a wind farm in the Montenegrin part of the Adriatic Sea. Analysis of available bathymetric databases has pinpointed technical solutions for the supporting structures of wind turbines required to construct an offshore wind farm. Applying an assessment method to the defined surface of Montenegrin waters, seven blocks have been identified as suitable for wind farm construction. The research results indicate that wind farms can be built in Montenegrin waters with a technical potential corresponding to a total capacity of 2299.794 MW, which includes 2034.48 MW for floating structures, 126.759 MW for fixed structures, and 138.555 MW for jacket-fixed structures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development and Future Perspective of Wind Power Generation)

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25 pages, 9457 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Simulation of the Multi-Wake Evolution of Two Sandia National Labs/National Rotor Testbed Turbines Operating in a Tandem Layout

by Apurva Baruah, Fernando Ponta and Alayna Farrell

Energies 2024, 17(5), 1000; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17051000 - 21 Feb 2024

Viewed by 480

Abstract

The future of wind power systems deployment is in the form of wind farms comprised of scores of such large turbines, most likely at offshore locations. Individual turbines have grown in span from a few tens of meters to today’s large turbines with rotor diameters that dwarf even the largest commercial aircraft. These massive dynamical systems present unique challenges at scales unparalleled in prior applications of wind science research. Fundamental to this effort is the understanding of the wind turbine wake and its evolution. Furthermore, the optimization of the entire wind farm depends on the evolution of the wakes of different turbines and their interactions within the wind farm. In this article, we use the capabilities of the Common ODE Framework (CODEF) model for the analysis of the effects of wake–rotor and wake-to-wake interactions between two turbines situated in a tandem layout fully and partially aligned with the incoming wind. These experiments were conducted in the context of a research project supported by the National Rotor Testbed (NRT) program of Sandia National Labs (SNL). Results are presented for a layout which emulates the turbine interspace and relative turbine emplacement found at SNL’s Scaled Wind Technologies Facility (SWiFT), located in Lubbock, Texas. The evolution of the twin-wake interaction generates a very rich series of secondary transitions in the vortex structure of the combined wake. These ultimately affect the wake’s axial velocity patterns, altering the position, number, intensity, and shape of localized velocity-deficit zones in the wake’s cross-section. This complex distribution of axial velocity patterns has the capacity to substantially affect the power output, peak loads, fatigue damage, and aeroelastic stability of turbines located in subsequent rows downstream on the farm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development and Future Perspective of Wind Power Generation)

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18 pages, 10044 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Ability of Convergent–Divergent Diffusers for Wind Turbines to Exploit Yawed Flows on Moderate-to-High-Slope Hills

by Micol Pucci and Stefania Zanforlin

Energies 2024, 17(5), 990; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17050990 - 20 Feb 2024

Viewed by 392

Abstract

Small-to-medium-sized wind turbines operate with wind speeds that are often modest, and it is therefore essential to exploit all possible means to concentrate the wind and thus increase the power extracted. The advantage that can be achieved by positioning the turbine on hilly reliefs, which act as natural diffusers, is well known, and some recent studies can be found on the effects of the characteristics of hilly terrain on the turbine performance. The literature shows numerous investigations on the behavior of ducted wind turbines, i.e., equipped with a diffuser. But so far, there is a lack of studies on the flow acceleration effects achievable by combining natural relief and a diffuser together. In this study, we analyze the performance of a 50 kW ducted turbine positioned on the top of hills of various shapes and slopes, with the aim of identifying the geometric characteristics of the diffuser most suitable for maximizing power extraction. The results show that a symmetrical convergent–divergent diffuser is well suited to exploit winds skewed by the slope of the hill, and therefore characterized by significant vertical velocity components. Due to its important convergent section, the diffuser is able to convey and realign the flow in the direction of the turbine axis. However, the thrust on the diffuser and therefore on the entire system increases dramatically, as does the turbulence released downwind. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development and Future Perspective of Wind Power Generation)

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16 pages, 4120 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of the Wind Generation Sector and Its Effect on the Grid Operation—The Case of Poland

by Sylwester Robak, Robert Raczkowski and Michał Piekarz

Energies 2023, 16(19), 6805; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16196805 - 25 Sep 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 786

Abstract

One of the main factors for changes in the structure of the energy mix in Poland is the development of renewable energy sources, in particular wind generation. In 2009–2020, the installed capacity of wind sources in Poland increased more than ninefold. At the same time, new legislation significantly curbed the development of onshore wind farms. Further development of wind energy in Poland will rely largely on offshore wind farms. The current state of development of wind power in Poland allows for analyses of the onshore part of wind energy development in Poland. The paper aims to conduct a detailed analysis of the Polish wind sector from an electric power generation perspective. This article presents a comprehensive discussion of the development of onshore wind generation in Poland. In particular, analyses address the production of electric power from wind. Various time horizons are taken into account, as well as the correlation of wind generation with demand for power in the Polish Power System (PPS). The results of the analysis indicate a high variability of wind generation throughout the month or year. The largest wind generation occurred during the night valley, which makes it difficult to operate the power system. In the winter months, wind generation is much greater than in the summer months. Monthly average values of the capacity factor for onshore wind farms (WFs) vary from 0.14 in August to 0.48 in February. Moreover, the coefficient of determination R² close to zero shows a lack of correlation between offshore wind power generation and real power demand in the PPS. The studied high variability of wind generation in PPS can be mitigated by the wide use of electricity storage systems. Moreover, the obtained results can be part of a model to describe the energy mix in Poland. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development and Future Perspective of Wind Power Generation)

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17 pages, 4310 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Reasons for the Recent Onshore Wind Capacity Factor Increase

by Christopher Jung and Dirk Schindler

Energies 2023, 16(14), 5390; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16145390 - 14 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1350

Abstract

Increasing wind capacity and capacity factors (CF) are essential for achieving the goals set by the Paris Climate Agreement. From 2010–2012 to 2018–2020, the 3-year mean CF of the global onshore wind turbine fleet rose from 0.22 to 0.25. Wind turbine siting, wind turbine technology, hub height, and curtailed wind energy are well-known CF drivers. However, the extent of these drivers for CF is unknown. Thus, the goal is to quantify the shares of the four drivers in CF development in Germany as a case. Newly developed national power curves from high-resolution wind speed models and hourly energy market data are the basis for the study. We created four scenarios, each with one driver kept constant at the 2010–2012 level, in order to quantify the share of a driver for CF change between 2010–2012 and 2019–2021. The results indicated that rising hub heights increased CF by 10.4%. Improved wind turbine technology caused 7.3% higher CF. However, the absolute CF increase amounted to only 11.9%. It is because less favorable wind turbine sites and curtailment in the later period moderated the CF increase by 2.1% and 3.6%, respectively. The drivers are mainly responsible for perennial CF development. In contrast, variations in wind resource availability drive the enormous CF inter-annual variability. No multi-year wind resource change was detected. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development and Future Perspective of Wind Power Generation)

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