Assessment of Wind Energy Potential as a Power Generation Source in the Azraq South, Northeast Badia, Jordan

Omar Al-Nhoud¹, Mohammad Al-Smairan^2*

¹Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Al al-Bayt University, Mafraq, Jordan.
²Renewable and Sustainable Energy Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Al al-Bayt University, Mafraq, Jordan.

DOI: 10.4236/mme.2015.53008                

Abstract

Due to several climate changes caused by greenhouse gases and to increasing need for clean energy sources, more attention has been grew to renewable energy sources and wind energy is one of the most promising energy source in the future. The current paper presents an investigation of the wind power potential in Azraq south area, a remote location in the Northeast Badia of Jordan using real wind speed data. Also, other wind characteristics with the help of one method of meteorological and Weibull are assessed to evaluate of which at a height of 10 m above ground level and in open area. Long term data (1991-2001) period measured mean wind speed data measured at 10 m height was analyzed. Based on these data, the highest and the lowest wind power potential are in July and December, respectively. Also, it was indicated that the shape and scale parameters for Azraq south varied over a wide range. The monthly values of Weibull shape parameter k ranged from 1.05 to 4.2 with a mean value of 3.06. While the monthly values of the Weibull scale parameter c were in the range of m/s, with a mean value of 4.57 m/s. It was also concluded that the site studied was not suitable for electric wind application in large-scale. It was found that the wind potential of the region could be adequate for non-grid connected electrical and mechanical applications, such as wind generators, battery charging and water pumping as well as agricultural applications.

Keywords

Wind Energy Potential, Weibull Distribution, Turbine, Badia, Jordan

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Vani, N. and Khare, V. (2013) Rural Electrification System Based on Hybrid Energy System Model Optimizing Using Homer. Canadian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 1, 19-25.
[2]	Sekar, M., Arunkumar, S. and Batasubramanian, V. (2014) PV-Wind Hybrid System for Supplying Power to Remote Locations. International Journal of Advanced Technology and Engineering Research (ITATER) on National Conference on “Renewable Energy Innovations for Rural Development”, New Delhi.
[3]	Keyhani, A., Ghasemi, M., Khanali, M. and Abbaszadeh, R. (2010) An Assessment of Wind Energy Potential as a Power Generation Source in the Capital of Iran, Tehran. Energy, 35, 188-201. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2009.09.009
[4]	Olayinka, S. and Olaolu, O. (2012) Assessment of Wind Energy Potential and the Economics of Wind Power Generation in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Energy for Sustainable Development, 16, 78-83.
[5]	Khan, I., Chowdhury, H., Rasjidin, R., Alam, F., Islam, T. and Islam, S. (2012) Review of Wind Energy Utilization in South Asia. Procidia Engineering, 49, 213-220.
[6]	Shown, M., Chaar, L. and Lamont, L. (2013) Overview of Wind Energy and Its Cost in the Middle East. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 2, 1-11.
[7]	Dorf Richard, C. (1978) Energy Resources and Policy. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc., Philippines.
[8]	Pandey, N.G. (1994) A Textbook on Energy Systems Engineering. Vikas Publishing House PVT LTD, NewDelhi.
[9]	Fyrippis, I., Axaopoulos, P. and Panayiotou, G. (2010) Wind Energy Potential Assessment in Naxos Island, Greece. Applied Energy, 87, 577-586.
[10]	Ministry of Environment (2011) Jordan Green Economy. Internal Report, Amman.
[11]	Akdag, S.A. and Güler, Ö. (2010) Evaluation of Wind Energy Investment Interest and Electricity Generation Cost Analysis for Turkey. Applied Energy, 87, 2574-2580. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.03.015
[12]	Dunn, P.D. (1986) Renewable Energies: Sources, Conversion and Application. Peter Peregrinus Ltd., London.
[13]	Hislop, D. (1992) Energy Options for Africa: Environmentally Sustainable Alternatives. Intermediate Technology Publications Ltd., London. http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/9781780444864
[14]	Hansen, M.O.L. (2000) Aerodynamics of Wind Turbines. James & James (Science Publishers) Ltd., London.
[15]	El-Osta, W. and Kalifa, Y. (2003) Prospects of Wind Power Plant in Libya: A Case Study. Renewable Energy, 28, 363-371. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0960-1481(02)00051-4
[16]	Odeh, I. (2002) Some Facts about Renewable Energy in Jordan. Internal Report, Amman.
[17]	Zhou, Y., Wu, W. and Liu, G. (2011) Assessment of Onshore Wind Energy Resource and Wind-Generated Electricity Potential in Jiangsu, China. Energy Procedia, 5, 418-422. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2011.03.072
[18]	Johnson, G.L. (1985) Wind Energy Systems. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs.
[19]	Hau, E. (2000) Wind Turbines, Fundamentals, Technologies, Application and Economics. Springer-Verlag, Berlin and Heidelberg.
[20]	Taylor, D. (2004) Wind Energy. In Boyle, G., Ed., Renewable Energy: Power for a Sustainable Future, The Open University, Milton Keynes.
[21]	Stevens, M.J.M. and Smulders, P.T. (1979) The Estimation of the Parameters of the Weibull Wind Speed Distribution for Wind Energy Utilization Purposes. Wind Engineering, 3, 132-144.
[22]	Jaramillo, O.A. and Borja, M.A. (2004) Wind Speed Analysis in La Ventosa, Mexico: A Bimodal Probability Distribution Case. Renewable Energy, 29, 1613-1630. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2004.02.001
[23]	Jaramillo, O.A. and Borja, M.A. (2004) Bimodel versus Weibull Wind Speed Distributions: An Analysis of Wind Energy Potential in La Venta, Mexico. Wind Engineering, 28, 225-234. http://dx.doi.org/10.1260/0309524041211404
[24]	Himri, Y., Himri, S. and Stambouli, A. (2010) Wind Power Resource in the South-Western Region of Algeria. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 14, 554-556. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2009.07.018
[25]	Ouammi, A., Sacile, R. and Mimet, A. (2010) Wind Energy Potential in Liguria Region. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 14, 289-300. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2009.07.006
[26]	Jordan Meteorological Department (2003) Internal Report. Amman.
[27]	Mohsen, M.S. and Akash, B.A. (1998) Potentials of Wind Energy Development for Water Pumping in Jordan. Renewable Energy, 14, 441-446. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0960-1481(98)00101-3
[28]	Sabra, Z. (1999) Winds Energy in Jordan—Use and Perspectives. DEWI Magazine, No. 15.
[29]	Ammari, H.D. and Al-Maaitah, A. (2003) Assessment of Wind—Generation Potentiality in Jordan Using the Site Effectiveness Approach. Energy, 28, 1579-1592. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0360-5442(03)00152-X
[30]	Chedid, R. and Chaaban, F. (2003) Renewable Energy Developments in Arab Countries: A Regional Perspective. Applied Energy, 74, 211-220. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0306-2619(02)00148-4
[31]	Badran, O.O. (2000) Wind Energy Research and Development in Jordan. Proceedings of the World Renewable Energy Congress VI, Brighton, 1-7 July 2000, 2360-2363. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/b978-008043865-8/50512-2
[32]	Kabariti, M. (2002) Solar Applications in Jordan. Internal Report, Amman.
[33]	Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (2012) Annual Report, Amman.
[34]	Badran, O. (2003) Wind Turbine Utilization for Water Pumping in Jordan. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 91, 1203-1214. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0167-6105(03)00073-4
[35]	World Bank (2004) Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. Final Report, Annex 3, Jordan. http://www.siteresources.worldbank.org/INTWSS/Resources/Desal_main%20report-Final2.pdf
[36]	Chedid, R., Ghaddar, N., Chaaban, F., Fadel, M., Mezher, T. and Moukalled, F. A Sub-Regional Outlook of Renewable Energy Potential: The Case of Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. http://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/27788.pdf
[37]	Hammad, M.A. (1999) Characteristics of Solar Water Pumping in Jordan. Energy, 24, 85-92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0360-5442(98)00078-4
[38]	Jordan Badia Research and Development Centre (2004) Internal Report. Amman.
[39]	Aksas, M. and Gama, A. (2011) Assessment of Wind and Solar Energy Resources in Batna, Algeria. Energy Procedia, 6, 459-466. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2011.05.053
[40]	Twidell, J.W. and Weir, A.D. (1986) Renewable Energy Resources. E. and F. N. Spon Ltd., London and New York. http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9780203478721
[41]	Le Gouriérès, D. (1982) Wind Power Plants, Theory and Design. Pergamon Press, Oxford, New York, Toronto, Sydney, Paris and Frankfurt.
[42]	Walker, J.F. and Jenkins, N. (1994) Wind Energy Technology. John Wiley & Sons, New York.
[43]	Borowy, B.S. and Salameh, Z.M. (1996) Methodology for Optimally Sizing the Combination of a Battery Bank and PV Array in a Wind/ PV Hybrid System. IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion, 11, 367-373. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/60.507648
[44]	Manwell, J.F., McGowan, J.G. and Rogers, A.L. (2002) Wind Energy Explained, Theory, Design and Application. John Wiley & Sons Ltd., Chichester. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/0470846127
[45]	Mathew, S., Pandey, K.P. and Kumar, A. (2002) Analysis of Wind Regimes for Energy Estimation. Renewable Energy, 25, 381-399. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0960-1481(01)00063-5
[46]	Celik, A.N. (2003) Energy Output Estimation for Small-Scale Wind Power Generators Using Weibull-Representative Wind Data. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 91, 693-707. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0167-6105(02)00471-3
[47]	Shepherd, W. and Shepherd, D.W. (1998) Energy Studies. World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., Singapore. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/p034