MACROSCOPICAL SITE SELECTION AND ESTIMATION OF WIND ENERGY RESERVES FOR OFFSHORE WIND FARMS

The advancement of large- scale offshore wind power holds paramount importance in optimizing energy infrastructure, promoting sustainable energy distribution,and achieving the“double carbon”goal. In this study,we leverage high-resolution spatial and temporal wind energy resource databases,geospatial planning data,and wind turbine data to conduct a comprehensive assessment of offshore wind energy reserves. Our research involves a thorough review of technical methodologies and processes for evaluating offshore wind energy reserves,resulting in the preliminary establishment of a comprehensive evaluation method system for macroscopic site selection of offshore wind farms. Furthermore,we use Geographic Information System(GIS)tools to estimate wind energy reserves in the Bohai Sea and South China Sea. The findings reveal that the South China Sea boasts abundant wind energy resources, characterized by an annual average wind speed ranging from 6.35 to 9.75 m/s. In contrast,the Bohai Sea experiences comparatively lower wind speeds,with an annual average wind speed ranging from 6.30 to 7.70 m/s. Notably,both sea areas exhibit significant untapped potential for wind energy development. At a height of 100 meters in the Bohai Sea,the total exploitable capacity of wind energy resources is estimated at a remarkable 526.8 GW. This capacity is composed of 353 GW for offshore wind energy technology development and 174 GW for far-reaching sea wind energy technology advancement. Likewise,in the South China Sea,the research identifies substantial technical development potential. Specifically,Guangdong and Hainan provinces demonstrate capacities of 540.8 and 506.0 GW,respectively,at a 100 m height. These capacities include nearshore potentials of 177.7 and 41.9 GW,as well as deep-sea potentials of 363.1 and 464.2 GW. In the Beibu Gulf,our study unveils a wind energy resource potential of 63.3 GW at a 100 m height. This potential comprises 59.9 GW for offshore areas and 3.4 GW for deep-sea regions. Nevertheless,as of the end of 2021,the installed offshore wind power capacity in China’s Bohai Sea,South China Sea,and Beibu Gulf provinces represents only 1.3% of the technically exploitable capacity. This research yields valuable data,offering essential support for the development and utilization of offshore wind energy resources. The results underscore the substantial room for expansion in offshore wind power capacity in these regions,a critical step towards achieving energy optimization and the“double carbon”objectives. © 2024 Science Press. All rights reserved.