Wind energy resources have been in sharp decline in regions all across the world, according to a study conducted by Chinese researchers.
After analyzing data from more than 1,000 weather stations around the world, a team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that 67 percent had witnessed an extensive decrease in wind-power potential over the course of nearly 40 years.
The team — which also induced a researcher from Purdue University — reached their findings after examining the changes of wind surface speeds from 1979 to 2016.
“The results show that surface wind speeds were decreasing in the past four decades over most regions in the Northern Hemisphere,” the study’s authors wrote, according to a Greentech Media report on Wednesday.
Around 30 percent of locations in North America have witnessed a 30 percent drop or more in available hub-height wind power. Sites in Europe were worse, where about 40 percent experienced a similar decline.
However, the effect was the most significant in Asia, where around 80 percent of sites on the continent saw a 30 percent drop in wind.
It’s not immediately clear what is behind the decline of wind across the Northern Hemisphere. Dr. Gang Huang, a corresponding author of the research, revealed to Greentech Media that they are currently performing a follow-up study to help determine possible causes.
Huang surmised that surface cover changes — such as the fast expansion of cities in developing countries — could possibly be affecting wind speeds, but maintained that it’s just an assumption. Increases in carbon dioxide emissions have also been predicted to decrease wind power.
Another cause could be the expansion of wind energy technology itself. A study published in November found that wind farms upwind from other turbines reduced their electricity generation.
This “wake effect,” the study found, reduces wind speed and affects turbines downwind from their direction.
The research team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences did find that the most dramatic decreases in wind power in China tended to occur “where a number of gigantic commercial wind farms were built.”
However, other experts warn to use caution before reaching conclusions.
“We need to take these kinds of studies with a pinch of salt, with all due respect to them. Maybe it’s true, but would it have an impact on the industry? I don’t know,” said Shashi Barla, an analyst with Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables.
Barla added that a drop in wind power could be offset with advancement in wind turbine technology.
No matter what changes with wind power in the United States, wind energy is expected to make up an increasing part of the country’s generation industry.
State governments across the country continue to increase their renewable energy mandates, with wind generation already a major presence in Midwestern states.
The Trump administration has been a major backer of wind energy development. The Interior Department announced a $405 million offshore wind auction that shattered all previous records.
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Back in 2015 the American Bird Conservancy sued the Dept of t he Interior over their granting the wind farms a 30 year Eagle Take Permit a judge invalidated the Permit
Wind Turbines are a hazard to Birds and especialy the larger ones like many large Raptors Eagles,Vultures’ Hawks,Falcons’ Etc their also noisie and probibly disturb the livestock as well
Electrical grids are more efficient when generators are close to the consumers, ie cities. Wind turbines don’t mix well with people. The best available wind sites got developed first. What’s left will give diminishing results.
This is just speculation, but decreases in available wind power could be related to the decrease in hurricanes. Contrary to the leftist propaganda we have had fewer hurricanes in the last 10 years. Less hurricanes and less wind power available might have the same cause.
As far as politics, it doesn’t matter at all. The anthropological climate change movement is completely isolated from the real world. Wind turbines will be built despite the decrease in a available wind power.
“Increases in carbon dioxide emissions have also been predicted to decrease wind power.”
Seriously? What cool aid do they drink?
The so called wake effect seems more like it. As more obstacles are erected, they reduce wind strength and as windmills suck power from the wind, consequently the amount of energy in the wind downwind will be less from these monstrosities.