The reliability of wind power in the Longyearbyen area

• Main Authors: Grochowicz, Aleksander, Heineken, Daniel, Wennberg, Sondre
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: UNIS 2021
• Subjects: Arctic; Longyearbyen; permafrost; polar night
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10852/87660; http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-90288

Within this decade the current energy system in Longyearbyen has to be revolutionised. Right now, it relies entirely on fossil fuels, but in the future it is envisioned to be a front-runner of renewable systems in the Arctic. Due to the polar night and restricted renewable resources, the reliability of wind power is of crucial importance in this transition. Additionally, the permafrost and remote location demand high robustness and simple maintenance. In this report, we analyse on-shore wind potential in three different locations over the previous decade, including an evaluation of stability and extreme events in Svalbard's harsh climate. To ensure long-term success of this transition, we look at interannual, seasonal, and sub-monthly variations that should be included in suitability assessments. Based on our analysis, disregarding this could lead to installations that can jeopardise the stability of the system. With generated input data that we feed into an energy systems model, we find that if one considers interannual variability and a set of different locations, one can ensure a viable and reliable renewable energy system for Longyearbyen, with on-shore wind as a key component.