Wind plants can impact long-term local atmospheric conditions

Journal Article · 24 November 2021 · Scientific Reports

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-02089-2 · OSTI ID:1832604

Bodini, Nicola; Lundquist, Julie K.; Moriarty, Patrick

Abstract Long-term weather and climate observatories can be affected by the changing environments in their vicinity, such as the growth of urban areas or changing vegetation. Wind plants can also impact local atmospheric conditions through their wakes, characterized by reduced wind speed and increased turbulence. We explore the extent to which the wind plants near an atmospheric measurement site in the central United States have affected their long-term measurements. Both direct observations and mesoscale numerical weather prediction simulations demonstrate how the wind plants induce a wind deficit aloft, especially in stable conditions, and a wind speed acceleration near the surface, which extend $$$$\sim 30$$$$ $\sim 30$  km downwind of the wind plant. Turbulence kinetic energy is significantly enhanced within the wind plant wake in stable conditions, with near-surface observations seeing an increase of more than 30% a few kilometers downwind of the plants.

• Research Organization: ARM Data Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Wind Energy Technologies Office
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830; AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1832604
• Report Number(s): NREL/JA--5000-80157; 22939; PII: 2089
• Journal Information: Scientific Reports, Journal Name: Scientific Reports Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 11; ISSN 2045-2322
• Publisher: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English