A Comprehensive Assessment of the Wind Power Potential of NokKundi in Balochistan and Its Integration with the Local Electrical Grid

Abstract

At present, decarbonization takes the top spot as a priority in the energy sector. The world has largely polluted its environment because of the use of non-renewable resources for electricity production. Therefore, governments worldwide are trying to reduce their reliance on highly emitted carbon fuels and utilize more renewable resources such as wind for electricity generation. There has been only a 6% utilization of Pakistan’s wind potential. Baluchistan’s NokKundi region boasts an enormous wind potential with exceptional wind velocities throughout the year. With this study, an abundance of wind potential and feasibility is explored using a complete simulation-based study of the said area. There has been a calculation of the load of the NokKundi area, and an appropriate wind farm has been designed to meet it. The HOMER software has been used to carry out a complete financial analysis for both standalone and grid-connected systems, including capital investment and running costs. An analysis of the load flow on a grid-connected system is carried out with the ETAP software. The study considers a 40 MW wind farm as a feasible alternative for meeting the load requirements of NokKundi. A complete analysis of the simulation results for both grid-connected and isolated wind farm systems concludes that the grid-connected system offers more advantages in terms of cost and smooth integration with the local grid.