Reasons for the Recent Onshore Wind Capacity Factor Increase

Increasing wind capacity and factors (CF) are essential for achieving the goals set by Paris Climate Agreement. From 2010–2012 to 2018–2020, 3-year mean CF of global onshore turbine fleet rose from 0.22 0.25. Wind siting, technology, hub height, curtailed energy well-known drivers. However, extent these drivers is unknown. Thus, goal quantify shares four in development Germany as a case. Newly developed national power curves high-resolution speed models hourly market data basis study. We created scenarios, each with one driver kept constant at level, order share change between 2019–2021. The results indicated that rising heights increased 10.4%. Improved technology caused 7.3% higher CF. absolute increase amounted only 11.9%. It because less favorable sites curtailment later period moderated 2.1% 3.6%, respectively. mainly responsible perennial development. In contrast, variations resource availability drive enormous inter-annual variability. No multi-year was detected.