Wind resources in northern Germany in 2015 were up to 10% above the 40-year average, according to research by Vaisala.
The environmental and industrial measurement company said that in just two of the past six years, 2015 and 2011, have wind speeds in Germany risen above the long-term average.
In the other four years, wind speeds were either at or slightly below average – with 2010 wind speeds 8% below the average across much of the northern Germany state of Lower Saxony.
The wind performance maps launched by Vaisla also highlight the difference between northern and southern German states, the company said.
“In 2015, where the whole of northern Germany is above average for wind speeds, much of the country south of Frankfurt, including Baden Württemberg and Bavaria, experienced wind speeds well below average for the nation,” it said.
Vaisala added that in the context of proposed policy changes putting the brakes on wind energy investment in the northern states, the analysis “illustrates that regulators need to look carefully at the year-to-year variability of the wind resource as a key factor in regional decision-making”.
Vaisala energy business unit EMEA regional manager Nihat Hünerli said: “The German government proposal to manage over production of wind power by limiting new capacity over the coming years shall not reduce pressure on the crux of the problem – namely the lack of transmission infrastructure.
“However, given the role played by north German wind farms in the national energy mix, it is essential that a full understanding of long-term resource variability is achieved prior to any decision to curb investment.”
Image: sxc
