Possible effects of giant wind farms on the weather
Wind power can make a large contribution towards renewable energy targets but there are concerns about their impacts on the weather. A new study models the effects of a hypothetical giant wind farm in North America on the weather. The researchers suggest that it could be possible to use these effects positively.
The EU set itself the target of increasing the share of renewables in energy use in Europe to 20 per cent by 2020 in its recent climate and energy package1. Electrical generation from wind turbines will make up a large percentage of this and large scale wind farms are being planned. It is important to understand the possible effects these wind turbines could have on weather systems.
The study investigated how wind farms could affect atmospheric circulation or the large scale movement of air. As wind passes through a turbine, it creates turbulence much like that in water created by a moving boat. This turbulence initially changes the surrounding weather conditions, which in turn can affect the weather on a larger scale.
The study modelled the impact of a theoretical wind farm in North America with a height of 156m (to simulate wind turbines with 100m towers and 56m blades). In particular, it modelled changes that occur when the turbines are turned on and off. The size of the wind farm modelled is highly improbable (occupying 23 per cent of North America), but the study raises some interesting issues.
The model indicated that initially there would be highly localised wind and temperature abnormalities within the immediate area of the wind farm. More specifically, this would be a reduction in wind speed. The impacts would then move downstream and eventually reach the North Atlantic, growing in magnitude as they did. The North Atlantic is an unstable environment and so the changes in weather tend to escalate faster here. It was suggested that, with more knowledge, this could be used to control the development and movement of cyclones over the North Atlantic - and potentially avert them.
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