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Investigating the Effect of Large Wind Farms on Energy in the Atmosphere

Author

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  • Magdalena R. V. Sta. Maria

    (Atmosphere/Energy Program, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94035, USA)

  • Mark Z. Jacobson

    (Atmosphere/Energy Program, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94035, USA)

Abstract

This study presents a parameterization of the interaction between wind turbines and the atmosphere and estimates the global and regional atmospheric energy losses due to such interactions. The parameterization is based on the Blade Element Momentum theory, which calculates forces on turbine blades. Should wind supply the world’s energy needs, this parameterization estimates energy loss in the lowest 1 km of the atmosphere to be ~0.007%. This is an order of magnitude smaller than atmospheric energy loss from aerosol pollution and urbanization, and orders of magnitude less than the energy added to the atmosphere from doubling CO 2 . Also, the net heat added to the environment due to wind dissipation is much less than that added by thermal plants that the turbines displace.

Suggested Citation

  • Magdalena R. V. Sta. Maria & Mark Z. Jacobson, 2009. "Investigating the Effect of Large Wind Farms on Energy in the Atmosphere," Energies, MDPI, vol. 2(4), pages 1-23, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:2:y:2009:i:4:p:816-838:d:5867
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2009. "Contextualizing avian mortality: A preliminary appraisal of bird and bat fatalities from wind, fossil-fuel, and nuclear electricity," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(6), pages 2241-2248, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dai, Kaoshan & Bergot, Anthony & Liang, Chao & Xiang, Wei-Ning & Huang, Zhenhua, 2015. "Environmental issues associated with wind energy – A review," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 911-921.
    2. Tabassum-Abbasi, & Premalatha, M. & Abbasi, Tasneem & Abbasi, S.A., 2014. "Wind energy: Increasing deployment, rising environmental concerns," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 270-288.
    3. Walsh-Thomas, Jenell M. & Cervone, Guido & Agouris, Peggy & Manca, Germana, 2012. "Further evidence of impacts of large-scale wind farms on land surface temperature," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(8), pages 6432-6437.
    4. Jacobson, Mark Z. & Delucchi, Mark A., 2011. "Providing all global energy with wind, water, and solar power, Part I: Technologies, energy resources, quantities and areas of infrastructure, and materials," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 1154-1169, March.
    5. Abbasi, S.A. & Tabassum-Abbasi, & Abbasi, Tasneem, 2016. "Impact of wind-energy generation on climate: A rising spectre," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 1591-1598.

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