UK wind speed variability lower than previously thought

The UK’s offshore wind speed variability is significantly lower than previously thought. That’s according to a new report undertaken by DNV GL on behalf of The Crown Estate, which says […]

The UK’s offshore wind speed variability is significantly lower than previously thought.

That’s according to a new report undertaken by DNV GL on behalf of The Crown Estate, which says the discovery could pave the way for improved generation projections for new projects and help bring down the cost of energy.

Historically, studies of wind speed variability have focused on measurements from onshore meteorological stations.

These studies have created an industry standard estimate of wind speed at around 6% – new data suggests 4% to 5.5% is a more appropriate estimate for the UK offshore environment.

Senior Development Manager at the Crown Estate, Matthew Clear, said: “This report reveals a significant improvement in our understanding of the UK’s offshore wind resource.

“We hope that industry will begin to reflect this reduced variability into their assessments to help create a more attractive financing proposition for investors and support continued cost reduction over the long term.”

Global offshore wind capacity is set to triple in the period between 2015 and 2020.

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