The Impact of Cyclone Xaver on Hydropower Potential in Norway

Abstract

Xaver was a severe cyclone that occurred over North Europe at the beginning of December 2013. The formation of a strong wind field during this event had an important impact in the energy sector. Some areas were benefited from the wind energy production during cyclone Xaver, while others encountered energy problems. The current study examines the spatial distribution of hydropower potential over Norway during cyclone Xaver as simulated by WRF model. WRF model provides a realistic representation of the movement of cyclone Xaver and the precipitation. The highest values of simulated precipitation were encountered at the western part of Norway. Precipitation exceeded 80 mm for several Norwegian regions and even reached 160 mm during the cyclone. The combination of high precipitation with the orography in Norway led to an increased hydropower potential for the west regions.