Exploring offshore wind’s potential to enhance energy security in nations with limited land and fuel resources
Offshore wind (OSW) power is critical to addressing energy security issues in nations with limited land and fuel resources. This study aims to assess the quality of OSW resources with high temporal and spatial resolution and to elucidate the economically feasible deployment of OSW using advanced pow...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/adaed5 |
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| author | Kenji Shiraishi Umed Paliwal Nikit Abhyankar Daniel M Kammen Amol Phadke Won Young Park |
| author_facet | Kenji Shiraishi Umed Paliwal Nikit Abhyankar Daniel M Kammen Amol Phadke Won Young Park |
| author_sort | Kenji Shiraishi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Offshore wind (OSW) power is critical to addressing energy security issues in nations with limited land and fuel resources. This study aims to assess the quality of OSW resources with high temporal and spatial resolution and to elucidate the economically feasible deployment of OSW using advanced power system models with Japan as a case study. First, comprehensive evaluations of OSW resources were performed by integrating a geographic information system (GIS)-based resource assessment with simulated data for hourly resource availability and renewable power plant operation. Then, using the ‘SWITCH-Japan’ model developed in our previous study, four key policy scenarios (‘pathways’) were analyzed. Each scenario incorporated three technology cost sensitivities and was assessed on multiple criteria including affordability, energy security, and land-use change. Finally, the potential for hydrogen production in other sectors was explored. We found that the Least-Cost scenario, which accelerates renewable energy growth, reduces average system costs by 43% and increases energy self-sufficiency by 31 percentage point compared to the business-as-usual scenario. While it is a highly valuable resource, OSW nonetheless necessitates significant infrastructure development and potentially faces both stricter regulations and local opposition. In recognition of this, the Limited Onshore Resources scenario reduces direct land use by half but finds only a slight increase in overall costs. While the balance of OSW potential is utilized for power systems, the remainder can materially enhance energy security for entire economies. Ultimately, OSW energy presents a strategic opportunity for nations to achieve energy self-reliance and reduce import dependence, emphasizing the need for timely infrastructure development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c52ee7fb37b94c8695af294e200d0b2e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1748-9326 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-c52ee7fb37b94c8695af294e200d0b2e2025-02-11T08:16:30ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Letters1748-93262025-01-0120303400610.1088/1748-9326/adaed5Exploring offshore wind’s potential to enhance energy security in nations with limited land and fuel resourcesKenji Shiraishi0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4881-2844Umed Paliwal1Nikit Abhyankar2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3383-8558Daniel M Kammen3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2984-7777Amol Phadke4Won Young Park5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1974-3835Sustainable Energy and Environmental Systems Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, CA 94720, United States of AmericaEnergy Markets and Policy Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, CA 94720, United States of AmericaGoldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley , Berkeley, CA 94720, Unites States of AmericaEnergy and Resources Group, University of California, Berkeley , Berkeley, CA 94720, United States of America; Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory, University of California , Berkeley, CA 94720, United States of America; Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley , Berkeley, CA 94720, Unites States of AmericaEnergy Markets and Policy Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, CA 94720, United States of AmericaSustainable Energy and Environmental Systems Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, CA 94720, United States of AmericaOffshore wind (OSW) power is critical to addressing energy security issues in nations with limited land and fuel resources. This study aims to assess the quality of OSW resources with high temporal and spatial resolution and to elucidate the economically feasible deployment of OSW using advanced power system models with Japan as a case study. First, comprehensive evaluations of OSW resources were performed by integrating a geographic information system (GIS)-based resource assessment with simulated data for hourly resource availability and renewable power plant operation. Then, using the ‘SWITCH-Japan’ model developed in our previous study, four key policy scenarios (‘pathways’) were analyzed. Each scenario incorporated three technology cost sensitivities and was assessed on multiple criteria including affordability, energy security, and land-use change. Finally, the potential for hydrogen production in other sectors was explored. We found that the Least-Cost scenario, which accelerates renewable energy growth, reduces average system costs by 43% and increases energy self-sufficiency by 31 percentage point compared to the business-as-usual scenario. While it is a highly valuable resource, OSW nonetheless necessitates significant infrastructure development and potentially faces both stricter regulations and local opposition. In recognition of this, the Limited Onshore Resources scenario reduces direct land use by half but finds only a slight increase in overall costs. While the balance of OSW potential is utilized for power systems, the remainder can materially enhance energy security for entire economies. Ultimately, OSW energy presents a strategic opportunity for nations to achieve energy self-reliance and reduce import dependence, emphasizing the need for timely infrastructure development.https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/adaed5offshore wind energyzero-carbon gridenergy security |
| spellingShingle | Kenji Shiraishi Umed Paliwal Nikit Abhyankar Daniel M Kammen Amol Phadke Won Young Park Exploring offshore wind’s potential to enhance energy security in nations with limited land and fuel resources Environmental Research Letters offshore wind energy zero-carbon grid energy security |
| title | Exploring offshore wind’s potential to enhance energy security in nations with limited land and fuel resources |
| title_full | Exploring offshore wind’s potential to enhance energy security in nations with limited land and fuel resources |
| title_fullStr | Exploring offshore wind’s potential to enhance energy security in nations with limited land and fuel resources |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring offshore wind’s potential to enhance energy security in nations with limited land and fuel resources |
| title_short | Exploring offshore wind’s potential to enhance energy security in nations with limited land and fuel resources |
| title_sort | exploring offshore wind s potential to enhance energy security in nations with limited land and fuel resources |
| topic | offshore wind energy zero-carbon grid energy security |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/adaed5 |
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