Wind energy is assessed thermodynamically, from resource and technology perspectives. The thermodynamic characteristics of wind are considered. Wind speed is affected by air temperature and pressure and has an effect on wind turbine performance, based on wind chill effect and Bernoulli's equation. The wind chill effect leads to temperature differences that suggest enthalpy and entropy components must be considered in a thermodynamic analysis. The wind pressure effect based on Bernoulli's equation affects the entropy of wind. These components have not previously been considered in evaluations of wind turbine efficiency for electricity generation. A new efficiency formula for wind energy systems is described, which provides important information about the system. It is seen that average differences between energy and exergy efficiencies are approximately 40% at low wind speeds and up to approximately 55% at high wind speeds. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This study examines the crucial role of wind energy in mitigating global warming and promoting sustainable energy development, with a focus on the impact of climate change on wind power potential. While technological progress has facilitated the expansion of the industry, it is crucial to continue making advancements to reduce the life-cycle emissions of wind turbines and ensure their long-term sustainability. Temporal discontinuities present a significant challenge for renewable energy sources. This study highlights the potential of hybrid systems to provide consistent energy output from wind sources. It also examines the variability in wind patterns caused by climate change, acknowledging that outcomes vary depending on geographic contexts, modeling approaches, and climate projections. Notably, inconsistencies in wind speed projections from downscaled general circulation models introduce uncertainties. While specific regions, such as North America, project an increase in wind speeds, others, such as the Mediterranean, face a potential decrease. Of particular note is the forecast for a potential long-term increase in wind speeds in Northern Europe. In conclusion, the wind energy industry displays considerable potential for growth, driven by technological advancements. However, the complexities resulting from climate change necessitate further research. Such insights are crucial for informed energy policy formulation and sustainable industry progress.

In solar engineering and atmospheric sciences solar irradiation and sunshine duration estimations are very important for different problems. Classical approaches that based on Angström equation for estimating global solar irradiation in terms of sunshine duration are abundant in the literature. Most of them include linear and lesser extent slightly nonlinear relationships between these two variables. Parameters are determined invariably by the least squares technique leading to regression lines or curves as models. None of these models provides within year variations in the parameters and they are all very rigid in applications yielding single global solar irradiation estimation for a given data set. In this paper, relation between extraterrestrial variables (length of day and solar irradiation) ratio and terrestrial variables (measured sunshine duration and solar irradiation) ratio is taken into account. This is a novel approach and has no restrictive assumptions. Decreasing amount of extraterrestrial variables ratio can be evaluated by subtracting measured terrestrial variables ratio (sunshine duration/total solar irradiation) from theoretical variables ratio. Differences between these ratios give atmospheric effects on length of day and extraterrestrial solar irradiation. The differences are represented by a parameter which helps to estimate easily the seasonal average parameter values without the application of the least square method. The main idea of this paper is to suggest not only a novel but also a practical formulation for solar irradiation and sunshine duration estimations. Its application is presented for three stations in Turkey and it is seen that better estimations are evaluated by proposed method than Angström method. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Climate change has become a global issue and is predicted to impact less-developed regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa, severely. Innovative, sustainable renewable energy systems are essential to mitigate climate change’s effects and unlock the region’s potential, especially with the increasing energy demands and population growth. The region relies heavily on fossil fuels, which calls for urgent action towards energy security and expansion. Hybrid floating solar photovoltaic-hydropower (FPV-HEP) technology has emerged as a cost-effective and transformative solution to accelerate the low-carbon energy transition in sub-Saharan Africa. The technology combines solar panels with existing hydropower infrastructure, ensuring energy security while reducing carbon emissions. This technology offers several benefits over conventional ground-mounted solar systems, including efficient land utilization, energy generation, and water conservation. However, its adoption remains challenging due to technical complexities and evolving regulatory frameworks. Despite these challenges, Nigerian energy professionals have preferred renewable alternatives, mainly distributed solar PV and FPV-HEP plants. This collective embrace of FPV and renewables reflects a growing understanding of their critical role in mitigating climate change through sustainable energy practices. This research aims to contribute to the existing body of knowledge and assist policymakers in making informed decisions on adopting this technology. It also stimulates further research on this topic, offering a new potential solution to the ever-increasing demand for green energy in the region to meet their sustainable development needs.