Operators of wind farms are concerned about a decline in wind power potential since 1988 (http://home.planet.nl/~windsh/windexen.html).

The figure below shows the trends of yearly averaged wind speed in the Netherlands. The average has been computed from the stations Schiphol, Soesterberg, Vlissingen, Eindhoven, De Bilt, Deelen, Eelde, Gilze-Rijen, Leeuwarden, Beek en Zestienhoven. All these stations have nearly complete times series since 1962.

The wind speed does show a decline since 1988. However, it also shows that during the sixties the wind power potential has been lower compared to the period 1975–1985 as well. The year 2003 yields the lowest average wind speed since the beginning of the Hydra time series (1962).

So far, little is known about the trends in wind speed in future climate.
Recently, a study has been published on the trends in storminess over de past 40 years.

De Bilt, September 2004.

Job Verkaik.