Assessing Wind Power Potential at Sana’a and Amran in Yemen

Abstract

In the field of electricity generation, one promising area is wind energy, since it is accessible and renewable worldwide. This study evaluated the wind power potential (WPP) at the selected locations (Sana’a and Amran). This study makes use of wind speed data that was recorded at a height of 10 meters over five years (2010–2014). The mean and maximum values of the recorded wind speeds are shown in this study. Analysis was done on the monthly, seasonal, and annual changes in wind speed. Weibull distribution function (WDF) has been used to examine the wind properties and power potential of the suggested locations. Using the real data that was recorded over the five years, the annual mean wind speeds (MWS) in Sana’a were determined to be 2.513, 2.6, 2.445, 2.462 and 2.6 m/s respectively and in Amran, they were determined to be 2.899, 2.656, 2.88, 2.945, 3.05 m/s respectively. The mean power and energy densities over the five years were found to be 8.207 W/m² and 71.889 kWh/m²; 11.803 W/m² and 103.396 kWh/m² for Sana’a and Amran respectively. The power density (PD) determined using the WDF and the power density PD determined using actual wind data were almost identical. Based on the findings, the MWS at the two sites chosen for the study is less than 4.0 m/s, which is far slower than the cut-in wind speed of many wind turbines from modern models. So, we recommend that some studies should be conducted to evaluate the potential for wind energy at some sites in Sana’a and Amran governorates outside the cities especially in or near mountainous site.