Assessment of Wind Energy Potential and Future Deployment in the Arabian Peninsula

Recent years have seen an increased push towards the utilization of renewable energy, due to it being inexhaustible and providing greatly reduced emissions in comparison to fossil fuels, which are the origin of greenhouse gasses that cause global warming. Wind energy is the second biggest contributor to the renewable energy mix in the world, due to benefits such as low operating costs and efficient land space use. The Arabian Peninsula has vast areas which are greatly suited to utilizing solar energy, yet wind energy is also being explored for both onshore and offshore projects to compliment the solar resources. This study uses vertical and horizonal wind components from the ECMWF ERA5 dataset. Monthly averages are downloaded from January 1940 to December 2022, at a spatial resolution of 0.25 x 0.25. The goal of the study is to conduct a long-term assessment of wind variability over space and time, to determine the most optimal conditions for wind farm operations. Initial results show that the summer season has the highest wind speeds due to the Shamal summer winds. Further examination reveals individual months and possible linkages to climate oscillations impacting the region’s wind potential. Recommendations are provided for optimal times and locations to operate wind farms.