Electricity generation from the first wind farm situated at Ras Ghareb, Egypt

Egypt is one of the Red Sea and Mediterranean countries having windy enough areas, in particular along the coasts. The coastal location Ras Ghareb on the Red Sea has been investigated in order to know the wind power density available for electricity generation. To account for the wind potential variations with height, a new simple estimating procedure was introduced. This study has explicitly demonstrated the presence of high wind power density nearly 900 kW/m² per year at 100 m of altitude for this region. Indeed, the seasonal wind powers available are comparable to and sometimes higher than the power density in many European cities for wind electricity applications like Vindeby (Denmark) and also America.New technical analysis for wind turbine characteristics have been made using three types of commercial wind turbines possessing the same rotor diameter and rated power to choice the best wind machine suitable for Ras Ghareb station. As per the decreasing the cut-in wind speed for the wind turbine used, the availability factor increases for a given generator. That it could produce more energy output throughout the year for the location.The aim of this research, was to predict the electrical energy production with the cost analysis of a wind farm 150 MW total power installed at Ras Ghareb area using 100 wind turbines model (Repower MD 77) with 1.5 MW rated power. Additionally, this paper developed the methodology for estimating the price of each kWh electricity from the wind farms. Results show that this wind park will produce maximum energy of 716 GWh/year. The expected specific cost equal to 1.5 € cent/kWh is still less than and very competitive price with that produced from the wind farms in Great Britain and Germany and at the international markets of wind power. The important result derived from this study encourages several wind parks with hundreds of megawatts can be constructed at Ras Ghareb region.     

Wind energy potential at Palkalainagar

This paper uses the Weibull's distribution function to describe the wind speed frequency distribution at Palkalainagar (geographical co-ordinates N : 9°54′, E : 78°54′), Madurai, India using the one year data available. Weibull's parameters are used to estimate the wind data parameters for the site. Of the wind data parameters the most important one is the annual specific output (T_A). This is used in determining the annual energy output of a Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) and in conducting cost-benefit analysis of wind-electricity generation. The parameter is used in evaluating the efficiency of WECS in the same site. Results show the possibilities of harnessing wind energy towards electricity generation.     

Electricity generation and wind potential assessment at Hurghada, Egypt

A technical and economic assessment has been made of the generation of electricity using wind turbines at one of the most promising wind sites in Egypt: Hurghada. In this paper, we used wind data recorded over 23 years for this site. The WASP program was used to calculate the values of wind speed frequency for the station, their seasonally values have been estimated and compared with measured data.Weibull parameters and the power law coefficient (n) for all seasons at different heights (10–70 m) has been estimated and used to describe the distribution and behavior of seasonal wind speed and their frequencies at Hurghada. The monthly and annual values of wind potential at a height of 70 m were obtained by extrapolation of the 10 m data from the results of our previous article [Ahmed Shata AS, Hanitsch R. The potential of electricity generation on the east coast of Red Sea in Egypt. Renew Energy 2006;31:1597–615] using the power law.Also, the monthly plant load factor (PLF) has been estimated, which is used to determine the expected annual energy output of a wind energy conversion system (WECS).Variation of annual capacity factor with rated wind speed for 10 different wind turbines has been studied. The lower the rated speed for the WECS of the same height, the higher will be the capacity factor values. The expected electrical energy cost of kWh produced by the wind turbine (Repower MM82) with a capacity of 2 MW considered for Hurghada station was found to be less than 1.5 € cent/kWh.     

Evaluation of wind energy potential as a power generation source for electricity production in Binalood,Iran

In this paper, the hourly measured wind speed data for years 2007–2010 at 10 m, 30 m and 40 m height for Binalood region in Iran have been statically analyzed to determine the potential of wind power generation. The study showed that the long-term wind speeds were found to be relatively high. The numerical values of the dimensionless Weibull shape parameter (k) and Weibull scale parameters (c) were also determined. Based on these data, it was found that the numerical values of the shape and scale parameters for Binalood varied over a wide range. The yearly values of k at 40 m elevation range from 2.165 to 2.211 with a mean value of 2.186, while those of c are in the range of 7.683–8.016 with a mean value of 7.834. However, the yearly mean wind speed, mean power density and power density of Binalood at 40 m height are found as 5.923 m/s, 305.514 W/m² and 2676.30 (kWh/m²/year) respectively. The results show that Binalood has available great wind energy potential for grid connection system.     

Indian wind power : Wind as a supplementary energy source in India

Wind energy programmes started in India during the 1980s and gained momentum during 1992–1993 mainly due to the participation of private developers who saw wind as a viable alternative source of power for their existing industrial activities. The liberal incentives provided by the Government of India like 100 per cent depreciation in the first year itself, a five year tax holiday; wheeling/banking, and third party sale by different state governments also gave a big boost to the establishment of wind farms. Dr A. Jagadeesh, Wind Energy Specialist and Consultant, India highlights the current status and actions needed for further development of a wind power industry in India.     

Viability of wind energy as a power generation source in Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria

In this work, a statistical analysis of wind energy potential in Maiduguri is carried out, using Weibull distribution and 10 years (1995–2004) of wind data. The results show the Weibull distribution parameter C and K, the probability function T (V), the velocity frequency distribution f (V), the energy and power densities. The cost benefit analysis shows the economic feasibility of using wind energy conversion systems for electric power generation and supply in Maiduguri.     

风 风能 风力发电——21世纪新型清洁能源

一风的一般属性１风的形成风是人们非常熟悉的一种自然现象，人人都能感觉到它的存在。春风和煦，给万物带来生机；夏风吹拂，使人心旷神怡；秋风送爽，带来丰收的喜悦；冬风呼啸，迎来漫天飞雪。那么风是怎样形成的呢？众所周知，人类生活的地球表面被大气所包围，来自太阳的辐射不断传送到地球表面，因太阳辐射受热情况不同，地球表面各处的气温不同。在影响气压高低的因素中，气温起着最重要的作用。温度高的地区空气受热上升，气压减小；温度低的地方，空气下降，气压增大，于是产生了气压差。和水往低处流一样，空气也从气压高处向气压…     

Wind energy potential evaluation for power generation in selected districts of Jharkhand

This study evaluated the availability of wind energy for electricity production at different locations, i.e., Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Devghar, Lohardaga, and Chaibasa, in Jharkhand, India. Due to the rapidly rising demand for power in Jharkhand, there is a requirement of an alternative renewable source of energy to lower the dependence on its limited fossil fuel resources. The studied locations were found to be unsuitable for wind to electricity generation on a large scale at 10 m height above the ground. However, small-scale wind turbines can be used to extract energy from low-speed wind, preferably at a height above 10 m from the ground.     

Wind energy potential assessment at four typical locations in Ethiopia

The wind energy potential at four different sites in Ethiopia – Addis Ababa (09:02N, 38:42E), Mekele (13:33N, 39:30E), Nazret (08:32N, 39:22E), and Debrezeit (8:44N, 39:02E) – has been investigated by compiling data from different sources and analyzing it using a software tool. The results relating to wind energy potential are given in terms of the monthly average wind speed, wind speed probability density function (PDF), wind speed cumulative density function (CDF), and wind speed duration curve (DC) for all four selected sites. In brief, for measurements taken at a height of 10 m, the results show that for three of the four locations the wind energy potential is reasonable, with average wind speeds of approximately 4 m/s. For the fourth site, the mean wind speed is less than 3 m/s. This study is the first stage in a longer project and will be followed by an analysis of solar energy potential and finally the design of a hybrid standalone electric energy supply system that includes a wind turbine, PV, diesel generator and battery.     

Biogas as a potential renewable energy source: A Ghanaian case study

The associated harmful environmental, health and social effects with the use of traditional biomass and fossil fuel has enhanced the growing interest in the search for alternate cleaner source of energy globally. Ghana, a developing country depends heavy on woodfuel as a source of fuel contributing about 72% of the primary energy supply with crude oil and hydro making up the rest. Biogas generation has simply been seen as a by-product of anaerobic digestion of organic waste. Having proven to be a practicable and promising technology, it has been very successful and a very reliable and clean source of energy when proper management programmes are followed. There are vast biomass resources including organic waste in Ghana that have the potential for use as feedstock for biogas production to reduce the over reliance of woodfuel and fossil fuel, and to help reduce the it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions which may be affecting climate change. Ghana having the technical potential of constructing about 278,000 biogas plants, only a little over 100 biogas plants has so far been established. This paper presents the energy situation and the status of the biogas technology and utilization in Ghana. It also presents the potential benefits, prospects and challenges of the biogas technology.     

Wind energy potential in Palestine

Weibull parameters of the wind speed distribution function were computed for 49 weather stations in Palestine. Wind potentials in kWh/m² yr were calculated at the above stations, then contours of wind potential were drawn. Electricity from the wind can be generated, in some locations in the West Bank, at a cost of 0.07 $/kWh.     

Wind energy potential in Tunisia

The purpose of this paper is to constitute a database for the users of the wind power. It presents the study of 17 synoptic sites distributed on all the territory of Tunisia. From the meteorological data provided by the Meteorology National Institute (INM), two statistical methods (meteorological and Weibull) are presented to evaluate the wind speed characteristics and the wind power potential at a height of 10 m above ground level and in an open area. An extrapolation of these characteristics with the height is also carried out. The results obtained give a global vision of the distribution of the wind potential in Tunisia and define the most windy zones.     

Wind energy potential in Aden-Yemen

The wind energy resource is very large and widely distributed throughout the world as well as in Yemen. Aden possesses a very good potential of wind energy. In this article a number of years data on wind speed in Aden has been studied and presented. A statistical analysis was carried out from which the annual wind speed was found to be 4.5 m/s and most of the time the wind speed is in the range of 3.5–7.5 m/s. The wind speed distributions were represented by Weibull and Rayleigh distributions. It was found that the Rayleigh distribution is suitable to represent the actual probability of wind speed data for Aden. The wind speed data showed that the maximum monthly wind speed occurs in the month of February with the maximum in the month of June. It is concluded that Aden can be explored for wind energy applications.     

Wind energy potential for Oman

The wind power potential was summarized using data from thirteen weather stations. The overall long term average wind speed for Oman is a moderate 3.67(s.d.=2.13) m/s yielding a potential power of 30.30 W. Wind speeds at four stations, Thumrait, Sur, Masirah and Marmul, are appreciably higher than the national average and hence these stations have a great potential for wind power utilization. More data needs to be collected for a better understanding of the wind power potential for Oman.     

Wind energy potential in Syria

Both wind energy potential and the electricity that could be generated by the wind for the Syrian land have been evaluated. An appropriate computer program was especially prepared and designed to perform the required calculations, mainly the wind energy potential and the generated electricity, using the available meteorological data provided by the Syrian Atlas. The program is capable of processing the wind data for any specific area, that is of course, in accordance with the needed requirements in fields of researches and applications.Moreover, calculations show that a huge energy potential is available for direct exploitation and as much as twice the current electricity consumption in Syria can be generated by the wind resource.     

Wind energy in Egypt: Economic feasibility for Cairo

Motivated by the rise of the electricity tariffs applied on industrial customer and the frequent electricity cut offs recently experienced in Egypt, this paper assesses the economic feasibility of installing a stand alone wind energy technology by an industrial customer who seeks to reduce his dependency on the national grid. For this purpose, the wind energy potential at the wind regime of Cairo was chosen to be assessed using half an hour wind speed data for a full one-year period (2009). The Weibull parameters of the wind speed distribution function were estimated by employing the maximum likelihood approach. The estimation revealed that Cairo has poor wind resources. Despite the poor resources, the financial analysis has shown that under certain parameters the wind project can prove to be financially viable. Thus harnessing wind energy through stand alone systems can help in meeting the industries electric power needs.     

Wind power energy potential at the northeastern region of Saudi Arabia

In the present study the energy potential of wind for the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia is investigated. A suitable Weibull distribution is generated based on the data obtained for a duration of one complete year at a costal location in northeastern Saudi Arabia. Comparison of this model is made with the Rayleigh distribution of wind power densities. Two horizontal-axis type of wind energy conversion systems which operate at fixed rpm are considered and a model of quadratic power output function is used. It is found that the error in using the Rayleigh approximation will be less than 10% of the full rated power density level.     

Wind energy potential assessment in Naxos Island,Greece

The current paper presents an investigation of the wind power potential of Koronos village, a remote location in the northeastern part of Naxos Island, Greece, using real wind data by a measurement mast. The obtained wind characteristics were statistically analysed using the Weibull and Rayleigh distribution functions. The results from this investigation showed that the selected site falls under Class 7 of the international system of wind classification as the mean annual wind speed recorded in the area was 7.4 m/s and the corresponding annual mean power density was estimated to be 420 W/m². Furthermore, the prevailing wind directions characterising the area were the northeastern and the north–northeastern. From the statistical analysis of these results, it was revealed that the Weibull model fitted the actual data better. This remark was further enhanced by the evaluation of the performance of these two distributions.     

Evaluation of wind energy potential and electricity generation on the coast of Mediterranean Sea in Egypt

Wind data from 10 coastal meteorological stations along the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt have been used for statistical analysis to determine the wind characteristics. It was found that three stations show annual mean wind speed greater than 5.0 m/s. In order to identify the Weibull parameters for all stations two different methods were applied.The methodical analysis for all stations was done for the corrected monthly and annual mean wind power at a height of 10 m, over roughness class 0 (water). The recommended correlation equation was also stated for Mediterranean Sea zone in Egypt. Also the wind power densities for heights of 30–50 m were calculated for all stations. Three of them are the best locations, namely: Sidi Barrani, Mersa Matruh, and El Dabaa, where these contiguous stations have great abundantly wind energy density.A technical assessment has been made of the electricity generation using WASP program for two commercial turbines (300 kW and 1 MW) considering at the three promising sites. The wind turbine of capacity 1 MW was found to produce an energy output per year of 2718 MW h at El Dabaa station, and the production costs was found 2€ cent/kW h.