Study Warns Climate Change Threatens Middle East Wind Power
(MENAFN) A joint Israeli-German study warns that climate change will drastically alter wind energy prospects across the Middle East, with a concerning decline in winds at turbine-operating heights despite a rise in surface-level breezes.
Released Friday in a leading climate science publication, the research forecasts that coastal surface winds could increase by as much as 0.7 meters per second by 2070, potentially providing some relief from extreme heat conditions.
However, winds at 150 meters above ground—the altitude where wind turbines operate—are expected to weaken by up to 1.0 meter per second due to shifts in regional atmospheric patterns. This slowdown could slash energy production by as much as 7 gigajoules over a six-hour period, threatening renewable energy projects and investments throughout the region.
For context, one gigajoule equals 277.8 kilowatt hours (kWh).
The study emphasizes that wind energy potential varies widely across the Middle East and warns that relying solely on surface wind data risks inaccurate energy projections. It calls for detailed analysis of wind behavior at multiple altitudes to inform future planning.
Policymakers are urged to factor these evolving wind patterns into their energy strategies and to focus on robust projects in areas with strong wind potential, particularly along the Red Sea coast.
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