The Enduring Power of Wind

Wind has shaped human history and continues to influence our future. From powering the sailing ships that explored the globe and opened new global trade routes, to driving the turbines that generate today’s clean energy, wind's influence is widespread. But this powerful force can also be destructive, capable of causing widespread damage.

In our latest blog post we will look at how wind influenced our past, and how OpenWeather products can be used to help both harness its power, and help reduce the risks behind this powerful force of nature.

The Future is Renewable: Wind Power in the 21st Century

Today, wind energy is a cornerstone of the renewable energy revolution, offering a clean and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. The growth of wind farms, both onshore and offshore, is a testament to the increasing global commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

The World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) estimated a record-breaking 150 Gigawatt of new wind power installations for the full year 2024. Bringing the total global wind power capacity to over 1,200 Gigawatts by the end of 2024.

The UK's latest 2024 auction for wind farm contracts gave the green light to nine new offshore projects. This is significant as the previous year's auction failed to attract any bids. These projects, part of a larger renewable energy initiative, are projected to power 11 million homes. Although these are generally seen as a positive step towards the UK's goal of 60GW of offshore wind energy by 2030, experts point out that the 4.9GW capacity secured falls short of the annual requirement needed to meet this target. The auction's success follows a government price guarantee increase after the industry highlighted rising construction costs as a barrier in the previous round.

Despite this progress, there are still concerns about meeting the ambitious 2030 government target. In addition, households are expected to face a 10% increase in energy bills this year, with a typical bill rising to £1,717.

Developments in offshore wind turbine technology

Offshore wind power technology is constantly evolving. Turbines are growing in size and power, demanding stronger, lighter materials such as carbon fiber composites and innovative manufacturing techniques, including 3D printing.

The industry is also tackling the challenges of floating wind farms, which require even larger components. The massive substructures are built on modular dry docks that can be towed to their ocean destinations.

These developments, alongside improvements in installation and maintenance using automation and robotics, are paving the way for a more efficient and powerful offshore wind future. The focus is on larger turbines, stronger materials, and adapting infrastructure for the unique needs of floating platforms.

For onshore wind energy installations, understanding the ever fluctuating wind conditions at a hyperlocal level can be vital in energy planning, not just for the individual turbines, but also for overall grid management. The OpenWeather Dashboard provides tailored reports, generated by our expert meteorologists. Along with a host of other features such as timely alerts, expert consultations, and detailed overviews, the OpenWeather Dashboard provides the features that precisely match your specific requirements.

Wind and the insurance industry

While wind is a powerful ally, it can also unleash devastating force. Hurricanes, cyclones, and severe storms are a stark reminder of wind's destructive capacity.

In 2024, February’s storm Isha, with gusts exceeding 90 mph, led to an increase in claims for roof damage, fallen trees, and business interruption. Similarly, storm Henk in January saw claims increase related to wind-driven debris impact. Accurate wind speed prediction is therefore crucial, allowing insurers to better assess risk and prepare for potential claims.

Wind data is crucial for both insurers, as well policyholders in mitigating risks and managing the financial impacts of extreme wind events. Insurers are increasingly using detailed wind data to improve claims processing and develop innovative products.

OpenWeather wind products

Our OpenWeather Wind Energy Collection delivers the precise, multi-height wind data you need for reliable energy generation. Get accurate wind speed, direction, and gust measurements at specific locations worldwide, including popular hub heights of 80m, 100m, and 200m. Leverage historical, current, and forecast data to improve project planning, ensure operational responsiveness, and strengthen your strategic decision-making.

From sailing ships to wind turbines, and record-breaking performances to devastating storms, wind continues to shape our world. Understanding and adapting to this powerful force, both its potential and its perils, remains critical in modern society.

About OpenWeather:

OpenWeather provides weather data for any location on the globe using a proprietary hyperlocal forecasting model with a resolution from 500 m to 2 km, globally. More than 7,000,000 customers from logistics, agriculture, insurance, energy, retail, and many other sectors, are working with the company's weather products.

OpenWeather cooperates with global meteorological agencies such as MetOffice and NOAA, and enhances its model with data from radars, weather stations and satellites. The company provides great availability of service at 99.9% for enterprise-level products. The products can be easily integrated into complex IT systems and are ideal for ML analytic systems.

Furthermore, OpenWeather offers a comprehensive weather dashboard, providing accurate forecasts, timely severe weather alerts, detailed overviews, and expert consultations from meteorologists. As a member of the Royal Meteorological Society and an Achilles-certified supplier, OpenWeather maintains high standards of quality and reliability. The company also demonstrates a strong commitment to ethical initiatives through the OpenWeather Foundation, which supports educators and students, provides non-profit subscriptions to increase weather awareness, and fosters a community of innovators working towards a sustainable future. This commitment extends to humanitarian efforts such as the Ukrainian donation program.

For more information on how to gain access to our OpenWeather products, please email us.