Bad news for wind power industry: Heat lowers wind speeds

A warmer world is not good news for the wind power industry — a recent study found that heat dampens wind speeds.

Consolidated Energy Consultants Ltd (CECL), a wind energy consultancy based in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, analysed temperature-induced wind speed variations in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu between 2003 and 2023.

The study, which used a statistical technique called regression analysis to measure the impact of temperature on wind, reveals a “concerning trend” that directly affects renewable energy prospects. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra experience severe reductions in wind speed, signifying a substantial decline in their wind power generation potential. Conversely, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu exhibit comparatively less impact, while Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh emerge as the least affected by temperature-induced changes in wind speed. “The empirical evidence derived from regression analysis highlights a strong inverse relationship between temperature and wind speed across the studied regions,” the study says.

Essentially, the study reveals three points: For every 1 degree C increase in temperature, wind speed reduces by 0.2 per cent; for every 1 m/s drop in wind speed, wind turbine generation reduces by 9 per cent; and for every 1 degree C increase in temperature, solar panel output reduces by 0.5 per cent.

While there have been other studies showing that higher temperatures lead to loss in wind power generation, the CECL examines the issue in the Indian context, state-wise.