Longterm analysis of wind speed and wind power resource assessment for the site Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

This paper aims to investigates longterm variability of wind speed and wind power resource assessment using statistical based Weibull probability distribution approach. This research work has been carried out for the selected site Vijayawada located in the central region of Andhra Pradesh, India for the first time. In this context, the global Modern Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) daily wind datasets has been considered for the long term analysis spanning over 36 years (1981–2016) at 10 m height a.g.l. Two-parameter Weibull probability and cumulative distribution models have been used to tap the wind power potential. Thereafter, an empirical method proposed by Lysen has been used to calculate the Weibull distribution parameters such as shape (k, dimensionless) and scale (c, m/s) factors. In addition, variations in wind speed characteristics namely mean wind speed (vm, m/s), maximum wind speed (vmax, m/s), most probable wind speed (vmp, m/s), maximum energy carrying wind speeds (vme, m/s) have been determined on the monthly, annual, seasonal basis. Finally, this work will help as guiding document for power and energy engineers, policy makers, as well as for researchers working in this area for providing solution to the problem of burgeoning gap between demand and supply of energy.