Analysis of wind power under heat wave conditions in southern Europe

In recent years, renewable energy is gaining importance in the energy mix, increasing the dependence of the energy system on the weather. Studies have been mainly focused on atmospheric patterns related to wind energy production in winter, as wind resource in Europe is higher for this season, but also because it is when there is a larger and more stable heating demand in Europe as a whole. However, it can be seen that summer energy demand can be as high as in winter in southern European countries, especially on heat wave days (calculated from E-OBS maximum temperature observations). Therefore, the objective of this work is to study the effect of heat waves on wind power generation. Summer climate conditions present reduced wind values, so a potential increase in energy demand due to heat wave conditions could compromise the total energy supply. We analyse the main atmospheric patterns in summer (1989-2019) and how these are related to changes in wind energy production. The relationship between weather regimes and wind energy is examined using an energy model from ERA5 wind speed data at 100 m. Results show a demand increase in heat wave days and different responses in wind power, depending on the country and weather regime studied. The impact of extreme climate events, such as heat waves, on wind energy in conditions of high energy demand, should be considered in the energy supply strategic planning and control to minimize the impact of these events on an electricity system with high penetration of renewables.