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Increasing extreme winds challenge offshore wind energy resilience

Author

Listed:
  • Yanan Zhao

    (Southern University of Science and Technology
    Eastern Institute of Technology
    The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Yiheng Tao

    (The World Bank Group)

  • Yuntian Chen

    (Eastern Institute of Technology
    Eastern Institute of Technology)

  • Jinyue Yan

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Zhenzhong Zeng

    (Southern University of Science and Technology
    Eastern Institute of Technology
    The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    Southern University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

Climate change is amplifying the intensity of extreme strong winds, threatening the development and resilience of offshore wind energy systems. The ability of wind turbines to endure such conditions is determined by the fifty-year return period wind speed (U50), a key parameter for turbine design. However, the long-term trends and spatial variability of U50 across global oceans remain largely unexplored. Here, we utilize hourly ERA5 wind speed data at 100 meters above sea level from 1940 to 2023 to reveals a significant global increase in oceanic U50 of 0.016 m s⁻¹ yr-1 (p

Suggested Citation

  • Yanan Zhao & Yiheng Tao & Yuntian Chen & Jinyue Yan & Zhenzhong Zeng, 2025. "Increasing extreme winds challenge offshore wind energy resilience," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-65105-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65105-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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