Europe has faced episodes of prolonged wind calm during recent summers, which has imposed an unusual strain on electricity supply precisely when demand is high, forcing a reliance on fossil sources and raising prices and GHG emissions.
The Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico is one of the regions with the highest wind potential in the world. Countries like Brazil, Chile, and Argentina, which have strongly invested in wind energy, should also begin to monitor this trend and prepare for a possible adjustment of their energy projections.
Some ecosystems depend on constant winds to disperse seeds or transport nutrients, which could be altered. The implications are profound, and the impact could be significant in Mexico and Latin America, jeopardizing one of the main sources of clean and renewable energy: wind.
If we understand wind as a valuable and vulnerable resource, it is possible to rethink how to design a more resilient energy future adapted to a changing climate. Wind stillness is a wake-up call to diversify our renewable matrix and incorporate more energy sources such as solar, hydrogen, and geothermal.
Wind stillness, or stilling, is the gradual decrease of average wind speed near the Earth's surface due to climate change and transformations in the environment. This potentially disruptive phenomenon could affect electricity production in Latin America, compromising the viability of current and future projects.
Global warming is modifying atmospheric patterns that weaken air currents, resulting in less wind and lower dispersion of atmospheric pollutants. Less wind means less moisture transport and could alter rainfall, generating more intense droughts in various regions.
Despite the challenges, wind will continue to be a key source of clean and renewable electricity, contributing to the global energy transition and improving air quality in cities. Ultimately, as expressed in the Broadway song, the sun will continue to rise, bringing with it the promise of a new day.
