Wind power is not only pollution free and renewable but is becoming more economical with technology development. The countries around the Arabian Gulf region are investing for wind powers both the land and in their marine space. A detailed study on wind power resource in the Arabian Gulf is not available. This paper is on the wind energy resource availability over Arabian Gulf waters, covering 2300 grid points. The data available with Coastal Information System data base at Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait, from 1979 to 2015 is used. The probability density and power density were derived from these data source. Weibull probability density function has been fitted to the wind speed data and the wind power density was evaluated. The study is carried out at 10 m, 30 m and 50 m elevations. The central location of the Arabian Gulf has higher annual average wind speed, ranging from 6 to 8 m/s at 10 m elevation, 7 to 8 m/s at 30 m elevation and 8 to 9 m/s at 50 m elevation. The scale parameter "c" at central location of Arabian Gulf is found to range from 6-8 m/s for 10 m elevation, 7-8 m/s for 30 m elevation and 8-9 m/s for 50 m above sea level. The Weibull shape parameter k varies from 2.5 to 3 at the north and central of the Arabian Gulf. The annual mean wind power density over Arabian Gulf Waters is the highest in the central region of the Gulf. The power density at 10 m, 30 m and 50 m hub height varies between 200 to 300 w/m 2 , 200 to 300 w/m 2 and more than 300 w/m 2 respectively. It is attractive to install large scale wind power generation at the central region of the Arabian Gulf and at elevations of 30 m or 50 m, since this region lies in Class 2 category of the Wind Energy Resource Atlas of the United States. The wind power density is attractive especially in summer season around the central region location in Arabian Gulf (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar), since high rate of power is used for air conditioning systems in summer.
In desert areas, some challenges have the prospective to reduce photovoltaic energy production. These are the creation of finely crusted carbonates and/or mud coatings resulted from fallen aerosols and dust during humid conditions. These challenges that greatly affect solar panel planes, as well as wind turbines, were allocated to accomplish the practicability to establish wind and/or photovoltaic energy systems in Kuwait. It was concluded that solar cells are not the best appropriate energy source in Kuwait due to the above-listed challenges; therefore, substitute renewable energy types are considered more practicable. After one year of operation at photovoltaic units and wind turbines in Kuwait, the outcomes show that wind turbines record production energy numbers that go beyond the production average. This was connected with high capacity factors during one year, consequential in an annual power production that is 2.3 times greater than that of solar panels; running 450 homes compared to 199 homes for photovoltaic (PV). Bubiyan Island and west of Kuwait are the most suitable potential location for wind farm establishment. Several control measures including the establishment of green belts and plantation of native shrubs were found proper in reducing dust by 64.5% and 68.4, respectively.
Abstract. Kuwait possesses a potential of renewable energy, such as solar and wind energy. Wind energy is an alternative clean energy source compared to fossil fuel, which pollute the lower layer of the atmosphere. In this study, statistical methods are used to analyze the wind speed data at Mubarak port (at Bubiyan Island), Failaka Island and Um-AlMaradim Island; which are located respectively in the north, mid and south of Kuwait territorial waters. Wind speed is the most important parameter in the design and study of wind energy conversion systems. The wind speed data were obtained from the Costal Information System Database (CIS) at Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research [1, 2 and 3]over a thirty seven years period, 1979 to 2015. In the present study, the wind energy potential of the locations was statistically analyzed based on wind speed data, over a period of thirty seven years. The probability distributions are derived from the wind data and their distributional parameters are identified. Two probability density functions are fitted to the probability distributions on a yearly basis. The wind energy potential of the locations was studied based on the Weibull and the Rayleigh models.
The worldwide environmental concern and awareness created a way towards the generation of pollution-free wind and solar renewable energies. Wind and Photovoltaic (PV) power plants of each 10 MW capacity located in the Shagaya area, west of Kuwait, were compared after one year of operation. The wind power plants recorded high capacity factors resulting in a yearly power production of 42.59 GWh, 21% higher than expected (contractual 31.160 GWh). It will reduce the emission of CO2 throughout the projected lifetime of 25 years by 118,303 tons. CAPEX (capital Expenditure) and OPEX (operation expenditure) were taken into consideration throughout the life of the plants along with investment costs resulting in a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for wind of 0.015 KWD/kWh or 0.046 USD/kWh, compared to 0.027 KWD/kWh or 0.082 USD/kWh for solar PV (44% lower than PV). Offshore, Boubyan Island, Northern Kuwait territorial waters, were found to be the foremost appropriate for wind energy generation, with Wind Power Density of more than 500 Watt/m2 in summer which is ideal for the high energy demanding season in Kuwait. The LCOE for offshore wind energy was 27.6 fils/kWh, compared to 39.3 fils/kWh for thermal power plants.
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