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Airborne wind energy resource analysis

Journal Article (2019)
Author(s)

Philip Bechtle (Universität Bonn)

M. Schelbergen (TU Delft - Wind Energy)

R. Schmehl (TU Delft - Wind Energy)

Udo Zillmann (Airborne Wind Europe)

Simon Watson (TU Delft - Wind Energy)

Research Group
Wind Energy
Copyright
© 2019 Philip Bechtle, M. Schelbergen, R. Schmehl, Udo Zillmann, S.J. Watson
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.03.118
More Info
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Publication Year
2019
Language
English
Copyright
© 2019 Philip Bechtle, M. Schelbergen, R. Schmehl, Udo Zillmann, S.J. Watson
Related content
Research Group
Wind Energy
Volume number
141
Pages (from-to)
1103-1116
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Abstract

We compare the available wind resources for conventional wind turbines and for airborne wind energy systems. Accessing higher altitudes and continuously adjusting the harvesting operation to the wind resource substantially increases the potential energy yield. The study is based on the ERA5 reanalysis data which covers a period of 7 years with hourly estimates at a surface resolution of 31 × 31 km and a vertical resolution of 137 barometric altitude levels. We present detailed wind statistics for a location in the English Channel and then expand the analysis to a surface grid of Western and Central Europe with a resolution of 110 × 110 km. Over the land mass and coastal areas of Europe we find that compared to a fixed harvesting height at the approximate hub height of wind turbines, the wind power density which is available for 95% of the time increases by a factor of two.