Assessment of the option “wind power to heat for buildings” with respect to meteorological conditions

Abstract

For regions with a high wind-energy potential, the use of wind energy to power electrical heating devices can be considered as an option for the heating of buildings, or, in reverse, the heating of buildings in colder climates may offer a load that is well-matched to grids with a high wind penetration. Here, the feasibility of this option is assessed regarding the meteorological conditions at sites in Europe as given by information on the wind resource and the temperature conditions expressed by the heating degree days. From this, the seasonal balance of local supply and demand is analyzed, to identify regions well suited for the application of this combination. A case study based on a dataset of 10-min time resolution is additionally performed for a site in one of these regions for the identification of the appropriate system sizing, including requirements for the inclusion of storage facilities or auxiliary power sources.