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Assessment of the present and future offshore wind power potential: a case study in a target territory of the Baltic Sea near the Latvian coast.
Journal
The Scientific World Journal
ISSN
1537-744X
Date Issued
2013
Author(s)
Lizuma, Lita
Institute of Physical Research and Biomechanics, Riga, Latvia
Avotniece, Zanita
University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
Rupainis, Sergejs
Rezekne Higher Education Institution, Rezekne, Latvia
DOI
10.1155/2013/126428
Abstract
Offshore wind energy development promises to be a significant domestic renewable energy source in Latvia. The reliable prediction of present and future wind resources at offshore sites is crucial for planning and selecting the location for wind farms. The overall goal of this paper is the assessment of offshore wind power potential in a target territory of the Baltic Sea near the Latvian coast as well as the identification of a trend in the future wind energy potential for the study territory. The regional climate model CLM and High Resolution Limited Area Model (Hirlam) simulations were used to obtain the wind climatology data for the study area. The results indicated that offshore wind energy is promising for expanding the national electricity generation and will continue to be a stable resource for electricity generation in the region over the 21st century.