Escalating wind power shortages during heatwaves
Abstract Heatwaves challenge electricity systems relying on wind energy for renewable power. However, the global availability of wind power during heatwaves remains unknown. Here, we provide a global assessment of wind power dynamics during heatwaves using weather reanalysis data from 1980 to 2023....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02239-8 |
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| _version_ | 1850208130632253440 |
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| author | Jiewen You Fangxu Yin Lu Gao |
| author_facet | Jiewen You Fangxu Yin Lu Gao |
| author_sort | Jiewen You |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Heatwaves challenge electricity systems relying on wind energy for renewable power. However, the global availability of wind power during heatwaves remains unknown. Here, we provide a global assessment of wind power dynamics during heatwaves using weather reanalysis data from 1980 to 2023. Our results show the global land area experiencing wind power shortages during heatwaves has risen by 6.3% per decade, reaching 60% by 2023. Australia, Northern Asia, and Europe are particularly vulnerable, with wind power decreasing by 30–50%. Conversely, regions such as the Amazon, the Great Plains in North America, and Central Africa experience slight increases in wind power during heatwaves. 75.5% of land areas show a negative response between maximum temperatures and wind speeds. Our findings highlight the growing risk of concurrent heatwaves and wind power shortages, underscoring the need for targeted regional strategies to ensure the reliability of wind energy systems under a warming climate. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-96594d7ca9f74aec87d0a0714ac1afb7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-96594d7ca9f74aec87d0a0714ac1afb72025-08-20T02:10:19ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-03-016111010.1038/s43247-025-02239-8Escalating wind power shortages during heatwavesJiewen You0Fangxu Yin1Lu Gao2School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal UniversitySchool of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal UniversitySchool of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal UniversityAbstract Heatwaves challenge electricity systems relying on wind energy for renewable power. However, the global availability of wind power during heatwaves remains unknown. Here, we provide a global assessment of wind power dynamics during heatwaves using weather reanalysis data from 1980 to 2023. Our results show the global land area experiencing wind power shortages during heatwaves has risen by 6.3% per decade, reaching 60% by 2023. Australia, Northern Asia, and Europe are particularly vulnerable, with wind power decreasing by 30–50%. Conversely, regions such as the Amazon, the Great Plains in North America, and Central Africa experience slight increases in wind power during heatwaves. 75.5% of land areas show a negative response between maximum temperatures and wind speeds. Our findings highlight the growing risk of concurrent heatwaves and wind power shortages, underscoring the need for targeted regional strategies to ensure the reliability of wind energy systems under a warming climate.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02239-8 |
| spellingShingle | Jiewen You Fangxu Yin Lu Gao Escalating wind power shortages during heatwaves Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Escalating wind power shortages during heatwaves |
| title_full | Escalating wind power shortages during heatwaves |
| title_fullStr | Escalating wind power shortages during heatwaves |
| title_full_unstemmed | Escalating wind power shortages during heatwaves |
| title_short | Escalating wind power shortages during heatwaves |
| title_sort | escalating wind power shortages during heatwaves |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02239-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jiewenyou escalatingwindpowershortagesduringheatwaves AT fangxuyin escalatingwindpowershortagesduringheatwaves AT lugao escalatingwindpowershortagesduringheatwaves |