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The wind energy potential of Iceland

Author

Listed:
  • Nawri, Nikolai
  • Petersen, Guðrún Nína
  • Bjornsson, Halldór
  • Hahmann, Andrea N.
  • Jónasson, Kristján
  • Hasager, Charlotte Bay
  • Clausen, Niels-Erik

Abstract

Downscaling simulations performed with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model were used to determine the large-scale wind energy potential of Iceland. Local wind speed distributions are represented by Weibull statistics. The shape parameter across Iceland varies between 1.2 and 3.6, with the lowest values indicative of near-exponential distributions at sheltered locations, and the highest values indicative of normal distributions at exposed locations in winter. Compared with summer, average power density in winter is increased throughout Iceland by a factor of 2.0–5.5. In any season, there are also considerable spatial differences in average wind power density. Relative to the average value within 10 km of the coast, power density across Iceland varies between 50 and 250%, excluding glaciers, or between 300 and 1500 W m−2 at 50 m above ground level in winter. At intermediate elevations of 500–1000 m above mean sea level, power density is independent of the distance to the coast. In addition to seasonal and spatial variability, differences in average wind speed and power density also exist for different wind directions. Along the coast in winter, power density of onshore winds is higher by 100–700 W m−2 than that of offshore winds. Based on these results, 14 test sites were selected for more detailed analyses using the Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program (WAsP).

Suggested Citation

  • Nawri, Nikolai & Petersen, Guðrún Nína & Bjornsson, Halldór & Hahmann, Andrea N. & Jónasson, Kristján & Hasager, Charlotte Bay & Clausen, Niels-Erik, 2014. "The wind energy potential of Iceland," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 290-299.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:69:y:2014:i:c:p:290-299
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2014.03.040
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    1. Engeland, Kolbjørn & Borga, Marco & Creutin, Jean-Dominique & François, Baptiste & Ramos, Maria-Helena & Vidal, Jean-Philippe, 2017. "Space-time variability of climate variables and intermittent renewable electricity production – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 600-617.
    2. González-Alonso de Linaje, N. & Mattar, C. & Borvarán, D., 2019. "Quantifying the wind energy potential differences using different WRF initial conditions on Mediterranean coast of Chile," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    3. Fazelpour, Farivar & Markarian, Elin & Soltani, Nima, 2017. "Wind energy potential and economic assessment of four locations in Sistan and Balouchestan province in Iran," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 646-667.
    4. Birgir Freyr Ragnarsson & Gudmundur V. Oddsson & Runar Unnthorsson & Birgir Hrafnkelsson, 2015. "Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis of a Wind Power Generation System at Búrfell in Iceland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-22, September.
    5. Campos, R.M. & Guedes Soares, C., 2018. "Spatial distribution of offshore wind statistics on the coast of Portugal using Regional Frequency Analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 806-816.
    6. Mattar, Cristian & Borvarán, Dager, 2016. "Offshore wind power simulation by using WRF in the central coast of Chile," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 22-31.
    7. Birgir Hrafnkelsson & Gudmundur V. Oddsson & Runar Unnthorsson, 2016. "A Method for Estimating Annual Energy Production Using Monte Carlo Wind Speed Simulation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-14, April.
    8. Xsitaaz T. Chadee & Naresh R. Seegobin & Ricardo M. Clarke, 2017. "Optimizing the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model for Mapping the Near-Surface Wind Resources over the Southernmost Caribbean Islands of Trinidad and Tobago," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-23, July.
    9. Archer, C.L. & Simão, H.P. & Kempton, W. & Powell, W.B. & Dvorak, M.J., 2017. "The challenge of integrating offshore wind power in the U.S. electric grid. Part I: Wind forecast error," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 346-360.
    10. Argüeso, D. & Businger, S., 2018. "Wind power characteristics of Oahu, Hawaii," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(PA), pages 324-336.
    11. Chen, Xinping & Foley, Aoife & Zhang, Zenghai & Wang, Kaimin & O'Driscoll, Kieran, 2020. "An assessment of wind energy potential in the Beibu Gulf considering the energy demands of the Beibu Gulf Economic Rim," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    12. Fazelpour, Farivar & Soltani, Nima & Soltani, Sina & Rosen, Marc A., 2015. "Assessment of wind energy potential and economics in the north-western Iranian cities of Tabriz and Ardabil," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 87-99.
    13. Salvação, Nadia & Bentamy, Abderrahim & Guedes Soares, C., 2022. "Developing a new wind dataset by blending satellite data and WRF model wind predictions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 283-295.
    14. Li, Yi & Wu, Xiao-Peng & Li, Qiu-Sheng & Tee, Kong Fah, 2018. "Assessment of onshore wind energy potential under different geographical climate conditions in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 498-511.
    15. Roberts, Justo José & Marotta Cassula, Agnelo & Silveira, José Luz & da Costa Bortoni, Edson & Mendiburu, Andrés Z., 2018. "Robust multi-objective optimization of a renewable based hybrid power system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C), pages 52-68.
    16. Kantar, Yeliz Mert & Usta, Ilhan & Arik, Ibrahim & Yenilmez, Ismail, 2018. "Wind speed analysis using the Extended Generalized Lindley Distribution," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 1024-1030.
    17. Gugliani, G.K. & Sarkar, A. & Ley, C. & Mandal, S., 2018. "New methods to assess wind resources in terms of wind speed, load, power and direction," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(PA), pages 168-182.

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