Is climate change a threat to the growing importance of wind power resources in the energy sector in Germany?

ABSTRACT

Electricity generation by wind power plants is gaining importance all over the world. Climate change may increase or decrease the potential for wind power generation. An approach to assess the effects of climate change on wind power production is presented. Simulation results indicate small impacts of climate change on wind power generation in Germany. The northern areas seem to profit from climate change, while in small regions in the southern areas negative effects occur. According to the study’s analysis, climate change will not negatively affect wind power production. The overall effect will be surpassed by the expansion in wind power generation capacity.

KEYWORDS:

• Climate change
• electricity generation
• wind power