How Solar and Wind Powers can Complement Each Other in Spatial-Temporal Dimensions? - An Empirical Study in China's Hubei Province
Abstract
This paper measured the total solar radiation and wind power density by adopting climatological methods using 2014 – 2016 monthly mean data of sunshine and wind speed in 17 cities of Hubei province in China, and then analyzed the spatial and temporal complementarity of solar and wind powers in these cities in Hubei province using the ArcGIS software. The results indicate that: (1) the spatial distribution of the solar energy resources in Hubei features high in the northeast and low in the southwest, with distinct divisions of the four seasons; The total annual solar radiation across the province is between 4055.87 and 5078.37 MJ/m2, with the most solar radiation appears in summer, followed by spring and autumn, and the least being in winter; (2) the wind energy resources in Hubei has the characteristic of high in the middle eastern region and low in the west, with the seasonal trend of strong in spring and summer, mild in winter, and weak in autumn; (3) the solar and wind energy resources in Hubei are complementary highly in space and slightly in season. Finally, this paper proposes relevant policy recommendations based on these findings.