An evaluation of the expected wind power dynamics at some windy hot spots in the Mediterranean and Black Seas

The objective of this work is to perform an assessment of the expected wind power dynamics in the most relevant wind energy hot spots from the Mediterranean and Black Seas. These hot spots are identified based on long term ERA5 data. The results indicate that in the Mediterranean Sea the most relevant location from the point of view of the wind energy is represented by the Gulf of Lion with average wind power densities between 800 and 1000W/m2 on large areas. Other marine areas with significant wind resources are the Aegean Sea, with an average wind power density of around 800W/m2 and the south-eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula. The western side of Black Sea and the north of Azov Sea are also more energetic. The analysis considers next data provided by two regional climate models under different scenarios and for each decade until the end of the 21st century, both the average wind power density values and extreme wind speeds are evaluated. The most important conclusion is that although the average wind power density at the level of the sea basins is expected to decrease in the future, there is a reverse tendency in the hot spots.