Research

With the global shift from fossil fuels to clean energy to reduce carbon footprint and diversify the energy mix, wind power has become one of the leading renewable sources of electricity globally. Approximately 10% of electricity in the United States comes from onshore wind generation (Energy Information Administration, 2023), and South Africa’s Wind farms boast an installed capacity of 3.4 Gigawatts (GW) in 2023, constituting 30% of Africa’s total 9 GW wind energy capacity (South Africa Wind Energy Association, 2023). My research seeks to take a holistic approach to analyzing this rapidly evolving wind energy landscape. Asking important questions:

What are the impacts of climate variability on wind energy production in the US?

Do weather extremes like drought act as drivers of wind power development in agricultural areas in the United States?

How does energy, like wind and solar, impact surrounding communities in the US and South Africa?

My research addresses one of the most critical challenges of our time: accelerating the transition to renewable energy while ensuring it is resilient, equitable, and sustainable. By bridging the gap between climate science and socioeconomic impacts, my work provides a holistic framework for wind energy development that considers environmental, economic, and social dynamics across diverse geographic contexts.

1. Climate Drivers & Environmental Resilience of Wind Power

The first pillar of my research investigates the physical and environmental drivers influencing wind power production. As climate change accelerates, understanding the reliability of renewable infrastructure under stressed conditions is paramount. My work specifically focuses on:

• Climate Teleconnections: Analyzing how large-scale climate anomalies (such as El Niño, La Niña, and other atmospheric oscillations) alter regional wind patterns and impact predictable energy yields.
• Drought and Agricultural Intersections: Evaluating the compounding effects of severe, repeated droughts in agricultural regions to understand how shifting hydrological and land-use conditions intersect with wind energy generation.

2. Socioeconomic Dimensions & Community Impacts

Technological viability is only half of the equation; true sustainability requires social equity. My research shifts focus to the human element of the energy transition: The Impact of Renewable Energy on Surrounding Communities. Through this socioeconomic lens, I evaluate how the deployment of utility-scale wind facilities shapes the communities that host them. This includes analyzing localized economic shifts, community perception, land-use conflicts, and the distribution of benefits and burdens.

Bridging Science and Society

By integrating hard climate data with social science methodologies, my research moves beyond siloed engineering approaches. The ultimate goal is to equip policymakers, developers, and communities with the insights needed to build a renewable energy future that is not only technically robust against a changing climate but also socially just and economically viable.