Closing the gap between wind energy targets and implementation for emerging countries
Type
ArticleKAUST Department
Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering (CEMSE) DivisionSpatio-Temporal Statistics and Data Analysis Group
Statistics Program
Date
2020-05-18Online Publication Date
2020-05-18Print Publication Date
2020-07Embargo End Date
2022-05-18Submitted Date
2020-01-27Permanent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/10754/662940
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Policymakers worldwide have set challenging sustainable energy targets to decarbonize their economy. Despite the ambitious pledges, several emerging countries still lack an actual progress towards the envisioned goals, often due to the scarcity of accurate data. Here, we propose a practical methodology for bridging the gap between the wind energy targets and their implementation. We illustrate our new methodology by focusing on Saudi Arabia, which endeavors to play a leading role in the renewable energy sector and pledges to install 16GW of wind capacity by 2030. We propose a blueprint for the optimal wind farms buildout, combining novel high-resolution model simulations, a unique set of observations, land-use restrictions and a thorough cost assessment. The most suitable technological option is selected among multiple turbine models for each potential site. Our findings suggest that Saudi Arabia is well positioned to become a role model for wind energy development within the Middle East, with 26% of the electricity demand that could be met by wind power. The average levelized cost of energy of the proposed buildout is 39 USD MWh−1, which confirms the competitiveness of wind resources in Saudi Arabia. We identify the area close to Gulf of Aqaba as the most cost-effective region for wind harvesting, with turbines characterized by moderate specific rating (350 W m−2) at relatively low hub height (75 m). The modelling framework proposed in this work can be adopted by other countries aiming to start or strengthen their wind energy portfolio.Citation
Giani, P., Tagle, F., Genton, M. G., Castruccio, S., & Crippa, P. (2020). Closing the gap between wind energy targets and implementation for emerging countries. Applied Energy, 269, 115085. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115085Sponsors
This publication is based upon work supported by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) under Award No: OSR-CRG 7 2018-3742.2. This work utilized the LandScan (2017) High Resolution global Population Data Set copyrighted by UT-Battelle, LLC, operator of Oak Ridge National Laboratory under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the United States Department of Energy. HRES-ECMWF operational analysis data were downloaded from the ECMWF data portal (https://www.ecmwf.int/en/forecasts/datasets/set-i) through the KAUST ECMWF licence. The authors thank the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (K.A.CARE) for providing the wind speed observational data. PG acknowledges support from the Richard and Peggy Notebaert Premier Fellowship.Publisher
Elsevier BVJournal
Applied EnergyAdditional Links
https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0306261920305973ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115085
Scopus Count
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as This is an open access article under the CC BY license.