A Detail Investigation on the Antarctic Wind Energy

• Published in: China ocean engineering 2023-08, Vol.37 (4), p.698-708
• Main Authors: Wang, Kai-shan, Wu, Di, Zheng, Chong-wei, Tao, Gui-sheng, Li, Wei, Gao, Yuan-bo, Yu, Yue, Wu, Kai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antarctic zone; Autumn; Coastal Sciences; Coefficient of variation; Density; Energy demand; Energy levels; Energy resources; Energy sources; Engineering; Environmental protection; Fluid- and Aerodynamics; Marine & Freshwater Sciences; Mountains; Numerical and Computational Physics; Oceanography; Offshore Engineering; Simulation; Spatial distribution; Stability analysis; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Summer; Wind power; Wind speed; Winter
• ISSN: 0890-5487; 2191-8945
• DOI: 10.1007/s13344-023-0059-6

The scientific development of wind energy based on local conditions is conducive to the urgent energy demand and environmental protection of Antarctic region. In this study, the ERA5 reanalysis data are used to evaluate the wind energy resources in the Antarctic region. A series of key indicators, such as wind power density, effective wind speed occurrence, energy level occurrence and stability, are comprehensively considered by using climate statistical analysis methods to analyze the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of Antarctic wind energy resources. The results show that the Antarctic region contains abundant wind energy resources, which benefits the construction of scientific research stations. The superior areas are the Southern Ocean and the coast of the East Antarctica, followed by the Transantarctic Mountains, the coast of the Bellingshausen Sea and Amundsen Sea. These areas have advantages in terms of wind power density (500–2500 W/m 2 ), effective wind speed occurrence (80%–90%), energy level occurrence (60%–90%) and stability ( C v : 0.6–1, M v : 1.2–1.8, S v : 0.8–1.2). The Antarctic’s wind energy resources in wind power density, effective wind speed occurrence and energy level occurrence in autumn and winter are better than those in summer, while the coefficient of variation in summer is worse than that in autumn and winter.