Assessment of the global ocean wind energy resource

Against a background of an environmental and resources crisis, the exploitation of renewable and clean energy can effectively alleviate the energy crisis and contribute to emission reduction and environmental protection, thus promoting sustainable development. This study aims to develop a grade classification map of the global ocean wind energy resource based on CCMP (cross-calibrated, multi-platform) wind field data for the period 1988-2011. We also calculate, for the first time, the total storage and effective storage of wind energy across the global ocean on a 0.25 degrees x 0.25 degrees grid. An optimistic increasing long-term trend in wind power density was found. In addition, the global ocean wind energy resource was analyzed and regionalized by considering the temporal and spatial distributions of wind power density, wind energy levels, and effective wind speed, as well as through a consideration of wind energy storage and the stability and long-term trends of wind power density. This research fills a gap in our knowledge in this field, and provides a reference point for future scientific research and development into wind energy resources such as wind power generation, water pumping, and wind-heating. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.