Global warming is reducing wind speeds during European summers, putting additional stress on the region’s energy systems as soaring temperatures boost cooling demand, reported Bloomberg.
The study published in Environmental Research Letters stated that the phenomenon — known as “stilling” — is accelerated by amplified warming of both the land and the troposphere, the layer of atmosphere closest to the earth’s surface.
The decline in wind speeds, which is also occurring in other northern mid-latitude regions such as North America, is projected to be less than 5% over the period from 2021 to 2050, stated Bloomberg. But even small drops can translate into major swings in wind power generation, lead researcher Gan Zhang, a climate scientist and professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign told Bloomberg.
Reduced wind speeds further underline the challenge for European nations that have switched away from fossil fuels and nuclear power to intermittent renewable energy, potentially putting the region’s climate goals in jeopardy. Freezing temperatures and windless days this winter have depleted the region’s gas inventories which highlight the broader impact of changing weather patterns.
The ripple effects of even small declines in wind speeds indicate a shift in Europe from a temperature-dependent energy market to one determined by the wind and the sun, Christopher Vogel, a wind and tidal power researcher at the University of Oxford told Bloomberg.
Climate Change Affects Wind
The recent declines in surface winds over Europe are linked with the “global terrestrial stilling” associated with climate change, as published in Yale Environment 360. From 1978 until 2010, research showed a worldwide stilling of winds, with speeds dropping 2.3% per decade. In 2019, though, a group of researchers found that after 2010, global average wind speeds had actually increased — from 7 miles per hour to 7.4 miles per hour.
Despite those conflicting data, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) forecasts slowing winds for the coming decades. By 2100, that body says, average annual wind speeds could drop by up to 10%.
While forecasts predict a future reduction in wind speeds, ongoing research and adjustments in energy policies will be key to mitigating potential challenges in renewable energy generation.
