Analysis of Seasonal Wind Energy Potential on Zanzibar Coastal Island

Abstract

The main objectives of this research were to numerically analyze the potential for seasonal wind power (WP), assess wind direction, and select the most effective wind turbine (WT) for installation at the research site. Wind data were collected half-hourly from a branch of the Tanzania Meteorological Authority nearest to the research site. The collected data were analyzed using a double-parameter Weibull distribution (WD) model, where the standard deviation (SD) method was used to fit the WD. The results revealed that the site experienced strong winds within the range of 4.5–7 m/s between the hours of 05:00 - 20:00, with the most likely seasonal wind speed (WS) ranging from 5–7 m/s, while the mean seasonal WS was 9.07–12.14 m/s. The highest possible wind energy density (wED) of 23.3 GWh/m2 at a hub height of 10 m occurred during winter, followed by spring, autumn, and summer, with 6.39, 6.32, and 3.33 GWh/m2, respectively. The annual wED was > 13.52 GWh/m2, with a typical month-to-month energy of 1.13 GWh/m2. Finally, the study concluded that the recommended WT model (POLARIS P62-1000) was the best choice for installation at the study site due to its sustainable WS and WP potential. Based on the findings of this research, which show that the site has sustainable seasonal wind resources, it is suggested that future wind research be carried out to extend the dataset to ensure the long-term seasonal wind pattern at the site. Doi: 10.28991/HIJ-2024-05-02-08 Full Text: PDF