Wind Energy Potential of High Latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere under Modern Climate Changes

Changes in wind energy resources in high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere are quantitatively assessed based on ERA5 reanalysis data for 1979–2021. The wind energy potential (WEP) is estimated during the analysis. According to the ERA5 reanalysis data, the WEP noticeably increases over the Greenland, Norwegian, Barents, Kara, and Chukchi Seas and European Russia in winter and over the Kara and Norwegian Seas in spring under the modern climate regime. A general increase in the WEP is observed along the Arctic coast, in particular, over its Russian sector in summer and autumn. These changes in the WEP correlate quite well with the retreat of sea ice in the Arctic and with the leaf area index, which characterizes the roughness of the underlying surface, in high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. An increase in the part of the year when wind generators are capable of operating in the Russian Arctic makes the region quite promising for the use and development of wind power under current climate change.