Monthly and Seasonal Investigation of Wind Characteristics and Assessment of Wind Energy Potential in Al-Mokha, Yemen

Mahyoub H. Al-Buhairi, Ahmed Al-Haydari

Physics Department, Faculty of Applied Science, Taiz University, Taiz, Yemen.

DOI: 10.4236/epe.2012.43017                

Abstract

The negative effects of fossil fuels have forced many countries to explore clean energy sources that are both environmenttally more suitable and renewable. In this study, wind characteristics and assessment of wind energy potential, were analyzed using the wind speed data measured during the period 1995-2001 at 10 m height of Al-Mokha, located in the west of Taiz, in the southwest of Yemen, subjected to 2-parameter Weibull analysis. Based on these data, it was found that the monthly mean wind speed ranged from 3.50 m/s in June to 7.94 m/s in November, the monthly values of Weibull shape parameter (k), ranged from 3.09 to 6.26, while the value of scale parameter (c) ranged from 3.91 to 8.63 m/s and the monthly wind power density ranged from 33.08 to 352.43 W/m². The seasonal mean wind speed data ranged from 3.61 to 7.56 m/s, while the wind power density was ranged from 36.62 to 328.59 W/ m² for summer and winter, respectively.

Keywords

Al-Mokha; Yemen; Weibull Distribution; Wind Energy

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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