Urban heat islands can influence the wind energy resource during heatwaves

Highlight

• UHI creates urban wind energy loss zone, reducing WPD by 20–30 W/m² at 50–100 m.
• Suburban/rural areas gain WPD up to 40 W/m² at 150–200 m due to UHI effects.
• Heatwave widens urban "loss zone" but boosts wind energy gains in suburban/rural areas.
• Heatwaves amplify urban wind energy losses by 15–20 % via stronger thermal gradients.
• Wind energy drops 25 %, cooling demand surges 30–40 %, causing mismatch in heatwaves.

Abstract

Urban wind energy is critical for sustainable electricity generation in cities. However, little research has explored how the urban heat island (UHI) effect influences wind energy, particularly in heatwaves when energy demand surges. In this study, we examine wind energy distribution in the Boston–Providence metropolitan area during heatwaves, using Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model integrated with Building Energy Parameterization/Building Energy Model (BEP/BEM). Two scenarios, a realistic case and a hypothetical case without urban warmth, were compared to isolate UHI impacts. 

Results reveal that UHI induces a "wind energy loss zone" in this urban area, reducing wind power density (WPD) by 20–30 W/m² at 50–100 m, while suburban/rural areas exhibit a "wind energy gain zone," with WPD increases up to 40 W/m² at 150–200 m. These losses diminish with distance from urban centers and become negligible beyond main urban and suburban sprawl. Heatwave expands the urban "loss zone", while amplifying wind energy gains in suburban/rural areas, driven by stronger thermal gradients and weakened background winds that intensify air convergence in urban and urban-rural circulations, thereby exacerbating urban wind energy losses by 15–20 %. An analysis of 235 wind farms using turbine power curves reveals that built areas dependent on stand-alone or off-grid turbines face significant energy deficits during a heatwave. Wind energy drops by up to 25 %, while cooling-related building energy demand rises 30–40 % during a heatwave. 

These findings underscore the need for strategic urban wind energy planning to ensure reliable power during extreme heat.