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Climate Change and the Potential Impacts on Wind/Solar Power Systems

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Hamid Pouran

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Guest Editor

School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Wolverhampton, Wulfruna St, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK
Interests: environmental technology and collaborative innovation; environmental sustainability and climate change adaptation; environmental geochemistry; and pollutants behavior in the environment; environmental policy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Yong Sheng

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Guest Editor

School of Computer Science, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, UK
Interests: advanced engineering; structural engineering; material engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Duran Şahin

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Department of Meteorological Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak, Istanbul 34469, Turkey
Interests: technical sciences; atmospheric sciences and meteorological engineering

Dr. Mustafa Kemal Kaymak

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Guest Editor

Turkish State Meteorological Service, Sabiha Gökçen Airport, Istanbul 34469, Turkey
Interests: meteorology; energy; wind energy; solar; floating photovoltaic

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Atmosphere explores the impact of climate change on renewable energy systems, specifically wind and solar power. Understanding the potential effects of extreme weather phenomena, such as hurricanes, heatwaves, and droughts, on these energy sources is crucial for sustainable development.

Extreme weather events intensified by climate change have the potential to hinder sustainable development, particularly in vulnerable areas, and create obstacles in transitioning away from fossil-fuel-based energy systems. This Special Issue investigates the impacts on renewable energy potential under a changing climate and how extreme weather can affect the efficiency and resilience of wind and solar power systems. It examines adaptation strategies and technological advancements to enhance system performance to mitigate climate change impacts.

The consequences of climate change impacts on renewable energy systems extend beyond local areas, with far-reaching global implications for sustainable development progress. This Special Issue provides valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders. Recognizing the vital connection between reliable clean energy sources and sustainable development, this Special Issue emphasizes the necessity of resilient clean energy infrastructure for promoting sustainable development and fostering economic growth.

Dr. Hamid Pouran
Prof. Dr. Yong Sheng
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Duran Şahin
Dr. Mustafa Kemal Kaymak
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

climate change
renewable energy systems
wind and solar power
extreme weather phenomena
sustainable development
adaptation strategies
technological advancements
resilient clean energy infrastructure

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2744 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Long-Term MERRA-2 Reanalysis Data Indicate Atmospheric Environmental Changes for Three Major Concentrating-Solar-Power-Plant Project Areas in Xinjiang, China

by Zengli Dai, Dongxiang Wang, Renbao Wang, Xiupeng Song, Iwona S. Stachlewska, Zhaohui Han and Xiaoquan Song

Atmosphere 2023, 14(11), 1700; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14111700 - 18 Nov 2023

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Abstract

The characteristics, distributions, and trends of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) and dust aerosol optical depth (DAOD) of three major concentrating solar power (CSP)-plant project areas (Hami, Turpan, and Ruoqiang) in Xinjiang, China were investigated and analyzed during 1980–2022 using the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications Version 2 (MERRA-2) reanalysis products. The monthly variation, seasonal variation, inter-annual variation, distributions of AOD and DAOD, and proportions of dust in the aerosols in these three CSP-plant project areas were computed and analyzed. Overall, the annual mean AOD at 550 nm in the Turpan project area was the highest (0.20–0.36), while Ruoqiang had the lowest annual mean AOD at 550 nm (0.13–0.30), and the annual mean AOD at 550 nm in Hami was distributed between 0.17 and 0.33. After 2010, the change in the rate of the annual mean AOD showed an overall downward trend in Hami and Ruoqiang, indicating that the atmospheric environmental changes in both areas were more favorable for the operation of CSP plants. In the project areas of Hami, Turpan, and Ruoqiang, more than 90% of the AOD values were mainly in ranges 0.10–0.30, 0.10–0.35, and 0.05–0.30, respectively. As expected, the AOD values in spring and summer were significantly higher than those in autumn and winter in the three study areas. In spring, the dust contents (i.e., ratios of DAOD to AOD) were the highest, accounting for 64% (Hami), 67% (Turpan), and 69% (Ruoqiang) of the total aerosol contents. In all three areas, the proportions of dust in aerosols in spring have shown an increasing trend since 2000, suggesting that the negative impact of the dust on the power generation efficiency in these areas has gradually been increasing. Therefore, it is recommended that the CSP plants in Hami, Turpan, and Ruoqiang develop a strategy for cleaning heliostats, especially in spring, to reduce the impact of dust adhesion on the efficiency of the CSP plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and the Potential Impacts on Wind/Solar Power Systems)

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Other

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18 pages, 2995 KiB

Open AccessPerspective

Accelerating the Low-Carbon Energy Transition in Sub-Saharan Africa through Floating Photovoltaic Solar Farms

by Tarelayefa Igedibor Ingo, Louis Gyoh, Yong Sheng, Mustafa Kemal Kaymak, Ahmet Duran Şahin and Hamid M. Pouran

Atmosphere 2024, 15(6), 653; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15060653 - 30 May 2024

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Abstract

Climate change has become a global issue and is predicted to impact less-developed regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa, severely. Innovative, sustainable renewable energy systems are essential to mitigate climate change’s effects and unlock the region’s potential, especially with the increasing energy demands and population growth. The region relies heavily on fossil fuels, which calls for urgent action towards energy security and expansion. Hybrid floating solar photovoltaic-hydropower (FPV-HEP) technology has emerged as a cost-effective and transformative solution to accelerate the low-carbon energy transition in sub-Saharan Africa. The technology combines solar panels with existing hydropower infrastructure, ensuring energy security while reducing carbon emissions. This technology offers several benefits over conventional ground-mounted solar systems, including efficient land utilization, energy generation, and water conservation. However, its adoption remains challenging due to technical complexities and evolving regulatory frameworks. Despite these challenges, Nigerian energy professionals have preferred renewable alternatives, mainly distributed solar PV and FPV-HEP plants. This collective embrace of FPV and renewables reflects a growing understanding of their critical role in mitigating climate change through sustainable energy practices. This research aims to contribute to the existing body of knowledge and assist policymakers in making informed decisions on adopting this technology. It also stimulates further research on this topic, offering a new potential solution to the ever-increasing demand for green energy in the region to meet their sustainable development needs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and the Potential Impacts on Wind/Solar Power Systems)

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