Home Institution
Hamilton College
Publication Date
Fall 2017
Abstract
Climate change is causing a shift in the temperature and pressure gradient between the Arctic and the Equator, with the Arctic warming at a faster rate than the Equator. This shift has the potential to alter the seasonal wind speeds in the Northern Hemisphere, which could in turn affect the wind power density potential. In this study, a wind model was created to predict future wind speeds and wind power density for 6 weather stations in Iceland. According to the model, winter wind speeds and wind power density potential will either stay the same or increase slightly (0 – 4%), while summer wind speeds and wind power density potential will decrease by 2 – 5% and 10 – 14%, respectively. These results agree closely with existing literature. The increase in winter power density could provide a complement to existing hydropower infrastructure, while the eventual decrease in summer power density implores that investment in wind power happens sooner rather than later for optimal efficiency.
Disciplines
Climate | Energy Policy | Environmental Sciences | Environmental Studies | Place and Environment | Sustainability
Recommended Citation
Smith, Alexei, "The Effect of Warming on Wind Speed and Potential Wind Power in Iceland" (2017). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 2748.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/2748
Included in
Climate Commons, Energy Policy Commons, Environmental Studies Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Sustainability Commons
Program Name
Iceland and Greenland: Climate Change and The Arctic