An analysis of the wind energy potential of Elazig, Turkey

Abstract

In this study, the wind energy potential of Elazig is statistically analyzed based on hourly measured wind speed data over the five-year period from 1998 to 2002. The probability density distributions are derived from cumulative distribution functions. Two probability density functions are fitted to the measured probability distribution on a yearly basis. The wind energy potential of the location is studied based on the Weibull and Rayleigh distributions. It was found that the numerical values of both Weibull parameters (k and c) for Elazig vary over a wide range. The yearly values of k range from 1.653 to 1.878 with an average value of 1.819, while those of c are in the range of 2.757-2.994m/s with an average value of 2.824m/s. In addition, yearly mean wind speed and mean power density of Elazig is found as 2.79m/s and 38.76W/m(2), respectively. The wind speed distributions are represented by Weibull distribution and also by Rayleigh distribution, with a special case of the Weibull distribution for k=2. As a result, the Rayleigh distribution is found to be suitable to represent the actual probability of wind speed data for Elazig.