Assessment of Wind Energy Potential as a Power Generation Source in the Azraq South, Northeast Badia, Jordan

Abstract

Due to several climate changes caused by greenhouse gases and to increasing need for clean energy sources, more attention has been grew to renewable energy sources and wind energy is one of the most promising energy source in the future. The current paper presents an investigation of the wind power potential in Azraq south area, a remote location in the Northeast Badia of Jordan using real wind speed data. Also, other wind characteristics with the help of one method of meteorological and Weibull are assessed to evaluate of which at a height of 10 m above ground level and in open area. Long term data (1991-2001) period measured mean wind speed data measured at 10 m height was analyzed. Based on these data, the highest and the lowest wind power potential are in July and December, respectively. Also, it was indicated that the shape and scale parameters for Azraq south varied over a wide range. The monthly values of Weibull shape parameter k ranged from 1.05 to 4.2 with a mean value of 3.06. While the monthly values of the Weibull scale parameter c were in the range of m/s, with a mean value of 4.57 m/s. It was also concluded that the site studied was not suitable for electric wind application in large-scale. It was found that the wind potential of the region could be adequate for non-grid connected electrical and mechanical applications, such as wind generators, battery charging and water pumping as well as agricultural applications.