Assessment of Wind Energy Resources in the South China Sea Based on ASCAT Satellite Data

Cai Daxin; Han Jing; Gan Yexing; Yue Xiao; Zhao Ting

doi:10.16765/j.cnki.1673-7148.2026.03.009

Abstract：The South China Sea is rich in wind energy resources.It is of great significance to carry out scientific and accurate assessment for the future development and utilization of its offshore wind energy potential.This study employed a random forest algorithm to correct the ASCAT satellite-derived wind speed data over the South China Sea from 2011 to 2020,and the wind energy density was estimated based on the Weibull distribution.A model for wind turbine energy utilization efficiency was established using observations.Based on the satellite wind speed and ERA5 significant wave height data,a typhoon impact index was constructed by using the information entropy method.The spatial distribution of wind energy resources in the South China Sea was evaluated by combining the wind energy density,wind energy utili-zation efficiency and the typhoon impact index.The results are as follows.(1)Wind energy density in most areas of the South China Sea was high,with primary high-value areas located in the southern Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait.A non-significant decreasing trend in wind power density was observed from 2011 to 2020,primarily driven by a reduction in spring.(2)The wind energy utilization efficiency in the South China Sea was generally high,and the interannual variation remained basically stable,but the wind energy utilization efficiency in the high wind energy density area was low.(3)The high impact area of ty-phoon was located in the northern South China Sea and the eastern sea area of Hainan Island.The impact of typhoon showed an upward trend from 2011 to 2020,and had experienced two upward stages.(4)The evaluation index of wind energy resources in the northeast,central,southwest and southern waters of the South China Sea was high,and it was suitable to use islands to carry out offshore wind power generation.