Exploring wind energy potential off the California coast

Abstract

[1] Wind energy represents the nearest term cost-effective renewable energy source. While efforts have been made to assess wind energy potential over land around the world, offshore wind energy resources are largely unexplored, in part because these regions have relatively sparse wind observations. In this study, the wind energy potential offshore of the California coast is evaluated using a welltested high-resolution numerical model dataset. We found that along the coastline, the low-level winds exhibit strong spatial variation and are characterized by alternating windspeed maxima and minima near coastal promontories associated with the interaction between the marine boundary layer and coastal topography. Further analysis highlights the enormous and reliable wind energy development potential in these persistent offshore windspeed maxima.

A Surface Wind Extremes (“Wind Lulls” and “Wind Blows”) Climatology for Central North America and Adjoining Oceans (1979–2012)

“…2b) (Klink 1999;Li et al 2010), but other regional factors that affect wind speed fluctuations may be present such as ocean-current variability, topography, and seasonal ice cover. For example, wind variability for the northern Pacific Ocean is related to the strength and positioning of the Pacific high pressure system, affecting the low-level jet associated with the marine boundary layer, particularly from northern to southern California (e.g., Jiang et al 2008), and altering the storm track for the Pacific Northwest (e.g., Dorman and Winant 1995). Marine boundary layer winds are strongest when the Pacific high strengthens and moves northward during the summer months and away from the coast (Jiang et al 2008).…”

“…For example, wind variability for the northern Pacific Ocean is related to the strength and positioning of the Pacific high pressure system, affecting the low-level jet associated with the marine boundary layer, particularly from northern to southern California (e.g., Jiang et al 2008), and altering the storm track for the Pacific Northwest (e.g., Dorman and Winant 1995). Marine boundary layer winds are strongest when the Pacific high strengthens and moves northward during the summer months and away from the coast (Jiang et al 2008). This movement acts to pull the storm track to the north of the Pacific Northwest and thereby diminishes cyclonic activity (and higher winds) for that region (Dorman and Winant 1995).…”

“…This result is due, for the west coast, to the land-sea pressure gradient that creates a persistent marine boundary layer (e.g., Dorman and Winant 1995;Dvorak et al 2010;Jiang et al 2008). The marine boundary layer is a strong inversion that is typically 500 m above sea level and is caused by the cold ocean current running along the western coast of North America (Dvorak et al 2010).…”

“…In addition, along the California coast, wind speeds do increase during the summer months when the Pacific Ocean subtropical high begins to strengthen and expand toward the open Pacific. Such repositioning of the subtropical high enhances the winds within the marine boundary layer down the coast of California (Jiang et al 2008). South of this region, Wang et al (2011) note that variability in surface winds over the southeastern Pacific could be forced by variations in the Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO).…”

“…The marine boundary layer is a strong inversion that is typically 500 m above sea level and is caused by the cold ocean current running along the western coast of North America (Dvorak et al 2010). Near the top of the inversion, higher winds become trapped and form a lowlevel jet that diminishes in intensity heading into open water away from the coastline (Jiang et al 2008). In addition, along the California coast, wind speeds do increase during the summer months when the Pacific Ocean subtropical high begins to strengthen and expand toward the open Pacific.…”