The potential impact of large-scale wind clusters on the local weather patterns

TL;DR

This study uses climate modeling to evaluate how large-scale offshore wind farms in the North Sea could influence local weather patterns over the UK, informing sustainable deployment strategies.

Contribution

It introduces a simulation-based approach to assess the local weather impacts of expanding offshore wind energy in Europe.

Findings

Wind clusters may alter local temperature and wind patterns.

Preliminary results show potential changes in weather variables.

Ongoing simulations will further clarify impacts.

Abstract

To decarbonise the electricity sector and achieve renewable energy targets, a rapidly growing number of wind farms have been authorised, constructed, and commissioned in the UK and EU in recent years. For instance, the UK Government aims to expand offshore wind capacity to 60 GW by 2030, while the EU has set a target of 120 GW of offshore renewable energy by the same year. Given these substantial projected capacities, it is crucial to thoroughly investigate the potential impacts of large-scale wind clusters on local weather patterns to prevent unintended consequences prior to deployment. In this paper, we use the WRF model to simulate four scenarios with varying wind energy capacities in the North Sea, assessing the potential effects of these wind clusters on the local weather patterns over mainland UK. Please note that the simulations of Case 3 and Case 4 are still ongoing, while all analyses in the current version of manuscript are all based on Case 1 and Case 2.