Wind and Structures
Volume 31, Number 4, 2020, pages 311-319
DOI: 10.12989/was.2020.31.4.311
Evaluation of wind power potential for selecting suitable wind turbine
Sukkiramathi K., Rajkumar R. and Seshaiah C.V
Abstract
India is a developing nation and heavily spends on the development of wind power plants to meet the national
energy demand. The objective of this paper is to investigate wind power potential of Ennore site using wind data collected over a
period of two years by three parameter Weibull distribution. The Weibull parameters are estimated using maximum likelihood,
least square method and moment method and the accuracy is determined using R2
and root mean square error values. The site
specific capacity factor is calculated by the mathematical model developed by three parameter Weibull distribution at different
hub heights above the ground level. At last, the wind energy economic analysis is carried out using capacity factor at 30 m, 40 m
and 50 m height for different wind turbine models. The analysis showed that the site has potential to install utility wind turbines
to generate energy at the lowest cost per kilowatt-hour at height of 50 m. This research provides information of wind
characteristics of potential sites and helps in selecting suitable wind turbine.
Key Words
three parameter Weibull distribution; Estimation of Weibull parameters; statistical tests; capacity factor; economic analysis
Address
Sukkiramathi K.:Department of Mathematics, Sri Ramakrishna Engineering College, Coimbatore, India
Rajkumar R.:Department of Mathematics, Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore, India
Seshaiah C.V.:Department of Basic Science and Humanities, GMR Institute of Technology, Srikakulam, India