Assessment of Wind Energy Potential as a Power Generation Source in Five Locations of South Western Nigeria

Nnawuike Nze-Esiaga, Emmanuel C. Okogbue

Department of Meteorology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/jpee.2014.25001                

Abstract

In this study, the wind speed characteristics and energy potential in five selected locations in the southwestern part of Nigeria were investigated using monthly mean wind speed data of 51 years obtained from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency. The data were subjected to the 2-parameter-Weibull and other statistical analyses. The outcome showed that the wind speed measured at a height of 10 m ranged from 1.3 to 13.2 m/s while the modal wind speed ranges from 3.0 to 5.9 m/s. 83.6% of the data were found to be greater than 3.0 m/s. The average monthly wind speed ranged from 2.72 to 7.72 m/s. Seasonally, average wind speeds ranged between 3.47 to 6.55 m/s and 3.83 to 6.94 m/s for dry (October to March) and wet (April to September) seasons, respectively. The two parameters of the Weibull statistics were found to lie between 2.99 ≤ k ≤ 5.32 and 3.02 ≤ c ≤ 8.57, respectively. The annual mean power densities are 65.09, 145.07, 176.96, 387.07 and 87.34 W/m2 for Abeokuta, Akure, Ibadan, Ikeja and Oshogbo respectively. It was further shown that the respective mean annual values of the most probable wind speed are 3.82, 4.97, 5.23, 7.03 and 4.01 m/s, while the annual values of the wind speed carrying maximum energy are 4.12, 5.48, 5.87, 7.50 and 4.55 m/s. These results indicate that wind speed has the viable potential for wind-to-electricity at height of 10 m for most of the locations assessed but it will be more viable in all the stations at a height above 10 m.

Keywords

Wind Power, Wind Speed, Weibull Parameters, Southwestern Nigeria

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Ajayi, O.O., Fagbenle, R.O. and Katende, J. (2011) Assessment of Wind Power Potential and Wind Electricity Generation Using WECS of Two Sites in South West, Nigeria. International Journal of Energy Science, 1, 78-92.
[2]	Oztopal, A. Sahin, A.D. Akgun, N. and Sen, Z. (2000) On the Regional Wind Energy Potential of Turkey. Energy, 25, 189-200. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0360-5442(99)00060-2
[3]	Feretic, D., Tomsic, Z. and Cavlina, N., (1999) Feasibility Analysis of Wind-Energy Utilization in Croatia. Energy, 24, 239-246. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0360-5442(98)00088-7
[4]	Sulaiman, M.Y., Akaak, A.M., Abd. Wahab, M., Zakaria, A., Sulaiman, Z.A. and Suradi, J. (2002) Wind Characteristic of Oman. Energy, 27, 35-46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0360-5442(01)00055-X
[5]	Rehman, S. and Ahmed, A. (2005) Assessment of Wind Energy Potential for Coastal Locations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Energy, 29, 1105-1115. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2004.02.026
[6]	Akpinar, E.K. and Akpinar, S. (2005) An Assessment on Seasonal Analysis of Wind Energy Characteristics and Wind Turbine Characteristics. Energy Conversion and Management, 46, 1848-1867. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2004.08.012
[7]	Ahmed Shata, A.S. and Hanitsch, R. (2006) Evaluation of Wind Energy Potential and Electricity Generation on the Coast of Mediterranean Sea in Egypt. Renewable Energy, 31, 1183-1202. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2005.06.015
[8]	Ahmed, S.A. (2010) Wind Energy as a Potential Generation Source at Ras Benas, Egypt. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 14, 2167-217. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2010.03.006
[9]	Albadi, M.H., El-Saadany, E.F. and Albadi, H.A. (2009) Wind to Power a New City in Oman. Energy, 34, 1579-1586. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2009.07.003
[10]	Ojosu, J.O. and Salawu, R.I. (1990) A Survey of Wind Energy Potential in Nigeria. Solar and Wind Technology, 7, 155-167.
[11]	Ojosu, J.O. and Salawu, R.I. (1990) An Evaluation of Wind Energy Potential as a Power Generation Source in Nigeria. Solar and Wind Technology, 7, 663-673. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0741-983X(90)90041-Y
[12]	Adekoya, L.O. and Adewale, A.A. (1992) Wind Energy Potential of Nigeria. Renewable Energy, 2, 35-39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0960-1481(92)90057-A
[13]	Fagbenle, R.O. and Karayiannis, T.G. (1994) On the Wind Energy Resources of Nigeria. International Journal of Energy Research, 18, 493-508. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/er.4440180502
[14]	Energy Commission of Nigeria and United Nations Development Programme (ECN-UNDP) (2005).
[15]	Energy Commission of Nigeria and United Nations Development Programme (ECN-UNDP) (2005) Renewable Energy Master Plan: Final Draft Report. http://www.iceednigeria.org/workspace/uploads/nov.-2005.pdf
[16]	Asiegbu, A.D. and Iwuoha, G.S. (2007) Studies of Wind Resources in Umudike, South East Nigeria—An Assessment of Economic Viability. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 2, 1539-1541.
[17]	Fadare, D.A.A. (2008) Statistical Analysis of Wind Energy Potential in Ibadan, Nigeria, Based on Weibull Distribution Function. The Pacific Journal of Science and Technology, 9, 110-119.
[18]	Fagbenle, R.O., Katende, J., Ajayi, O.O. and Okeniyi, J.O. (2011) Assessment of Wind Energy Potential of Two Sites in North-East, Nigeria. Renewable Energy, 36, 1277-1283. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2010.10.003
[19]	Carta, J.A., Ramírez, P. and Velázquez, S. (2009) A Review of Wind Speed Probability Distributions Used in Wind Energy Analysis: Case Studies in the Canary Islands. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 13, 933-955. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2008.05.005
[20]	Keyhani, A., Ghasemi-Varnamkhasti, 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
[21]	Chineke, C.T. (2009) Boosting Electricity Supply in Nigeria: Wind Energy to the Rescue? Pacific Journal of Science and Technology, 10, 553-560.
[22]	Lipson, C. and Sheth, N.J. (1973) Statistical Design and Analysis of Engineering Experiments. McGraw-Hill, New York.
[23]	Argungu, G.M., Bala, E.J., Momoh, M., Musa, M., Dabai, K.A., Zangina, U. and Maiyama, B.A. (2013) Statistical Analysis of Wind Energy Resource Potentials For Power Generation In Jos, Nigeria, Based on Weibull Distribution Function. The International Journal Of Engineering And Science (IJES), 2, 22-31.
[24]	Mathew, S., Pandey, K.P. and Kumar, A.V. (2002) Analysis of Wind Regimes for Energy Estimation. Renewable Energy, 25, 381-399. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0960-1481(01)00063-5
[25]	Ilinca, A., McCarthy, E., Chaumel, J.-L. and Retiveau, J.-L. (2003) Wind Potential Assessment of Quebec Province. Renewable Energy, 28, 1881-1897. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0960-1481(03)00072-7