An Assessment of Wind Power Generation Potential for Margate Town in South Africa

Chipo Shonhiwa; Patrick Mukumba

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13

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An Assessment of Wind Power Generation Potential for Margate Town in South Africa

Chipo Shonhiwa, Patrick Mukumba

Published in International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering (Volume 4, Issue 2)

Received: 29 January 2015 Accepted: 11 February 2015 Published: 26 February 2015

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Abstract

Before setting up a wind farm at any given site, it is very important to evaluate its wind power potential to find its physical and economic sustainability. To date, there is limited research output on wind resource assessment for Margate town in South Africa and this might be one of the factors affecting the uptake of wind technologies in this area. This study aimed to assess the wind power potential of Margate. Three-year-long, hourly average wind speed series between January 2010 and December 2012 for Margate town were statistically analysed using the Weibull distribution function. The dimensionless Weibull shape parameter (k) varied from 2.1 to 2.2 while the scale parameter (c) ranged between 4.1 and 4.3 ms-1. The most probable wind speed (vmp) ranged from 3.0 to 3.2 ms-1. The wind power densities fluctuated from 57.8 to 64.0 Wm-2.The average of the measured wind speeds (vm) for the whole period was less than 5 ms-1.Basing on the wind classification done by European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), Margate town is not favourable for the installation of wind turbines. However according to the rule of thumb for mean yearly wind speeds set by American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the town is suitable for installation of stand-alone systems. It is thus recommended to small scale wind turbines for stand-alone applications such as supplying power to individual houses and irrigation in this town.

Published in	International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering (Volume 4, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13
Page(s)	32-37
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Wind Speed, Weibull Distribution, Weibull Parameter, Wind Power Density

References

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[4]	Ayodele TR, Jimoh AA, Munda JL, Agee JT. Statistical analysis of wind speed and wind power potential of Port Elizabeth using Weibull parameters. JESA 2012;23:30.
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[9]	Nor KM, Shaaban M, Rahman HA. Feasibility assessment of wind energy resources in malaysia based on NWP models. Renew Energ 2014;62:147.
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[11]	Tong W. Fundamentals of Wind Energy. In: Tong W, EDITOR. Wind power generation and wind turbine design. Southampton: wit press; 2010.
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APA Style

Chipo Shonhiwa, Patrick Mukumba. (2015). An Assessment of Wind Power Generation Potential for Margate Town in South Africa. International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering, 4(2), 32-37. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13

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ACS Style

Chipo Shonhiwa; Patrick Mukumba. An Assessment of Wind Power Generation Potential for Margate Town in South Africa. Int. J. Energy Power Eng. 2015, 4(2), 32-37. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13

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AMA Style

Chipo Shonhiwa, Patrick Mukumba. An Assessment of Wind Power Generation Potential for Margate Town in South Africa. Int J Energy Power Eng. 2015;4(2):32-37. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13,
  author = {Chipo Shonhiwa and Patrick Mukumba},
  title = {An Assessment of Wind Power Generation Potential for Margate Town in South Africa},
  journal = {International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering},
  volume = {4},
  number = {2},
  pages = {32-37},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepe.20150402.13},
  abstract = {Before setting up a wind farm at any given site, it is very important to evaluate its wind power potential to find its physical and economic sustainability. To date, there is limited research output on wind resource assessment for Margate town in South Africa and this might be one of the factors affecting the uptake of wind technologies in this area. This study aimed to assess the wind power potential of Margate. Three-year-long, hourly average wind speed series between January 2010 and December 2012 for Margate town were statistically analysed using the Weibull distribution function. The dimensionless Weibull shape parameter (k) varied from 2.1 to 2.2 while the scale parameter (c) ranged between 4.1 and 4.3 ms-1. The most probable wind speed (vmp) ranged from 3.0 to 3.2 ms-1. The wind power densities fluctuated from 57.8 to 64.0 Wm-2.The average of the measured wind speeds (vm) for the whole period was less than 5 ms-1.Basing on the wind classification done by European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), Margate town is not favourable for the installation of wind turbines. However according to the rule of thumb for mean yearly wind speeds set by American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the town is suitable for installation of stand-alone systems. It is thus recommended to small scale wind turbines for stand-alone applications such as supplying power to individual houses and irrigation in this town.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - An Assessment of Wind Power Generation Potential for Margate Town in South Africa
AU  - Chipo Shonhiwa
AU  - Patrick Mukumba
Y1  - 2015/02/26
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13
T2  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
JF  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
JO  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
SP  - 32
EP  - 37
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2326-960X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13
AB  - Before setting up a wind farm at any given site, it is very important to evaluate its wind power potential to find its physical and economic sustainability. To date, there is limited research output on wind resource assessment for Margate town in South Africa and this might be one of the factors affecting the uptake of wind technologies in this area. This study aimed to assess the wind power potential of Margate. Three-year-long, hourly average wind speed series between January 2010 and December 2012 for Margate town were statistically analysed using the Weibull distribution function. The dimensionless Weibull shape parameter (k) varied from 2.1 to 2.2 while the scale parameter (c) ranged between 4.1 and 4.3 ms-1. The most probable wind speed (vmp) ranged from 3.0 to 3.2 ms-1. The wind power densities fluctuated from 57.8 to 64.0 Wm-2.The average of the measured wind speeds (vm) for the whole period was less than 5 ms-1.Basing on the wind classification done by European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), Margate town is not favourable for the installation of wind turbines. However according to the rule of thumb for mean yearly wind speeds set by American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the town is suitable for installation of stand-alone systems. It is thus recommended to small scale wind turbines for stand-alone applications such as supplying power to individual houses and irrigation in this town.
VL  - 4
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Chipo Shonhiwa

Mathematics and Physics Department, Bindura University of Science Education, Bindura, Zimbabwe
Patrick Mukumba

Mathematics and Physics Department, Bindura University of Science Education, Bindura, Zimbabwe

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APA Style

Chipo Shonhiwa, Patrick Mukumba. (2015). An Assessment of Wind Power Generation Potential for Margate Town in South Africa. International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering, 4(2), 32-37. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13

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ACS Style

Chipo Shonhiwa; Patrick Mukumba. An Assessment of Wind Power Generation Potential for Margate Town in South Africa. Int. J. Energy Power Eng. 2015, 4(2), 32-37. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13

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AMA Style

Chipo Shonhiwa, Patrick Mukumba. An Assessment of Wind Power Generation Potential for Margate Town in South Africa. Int J Energy Power Eng. 2015;4(2):32-37. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13,
  author = {Chipo Shonhiwa and Patrick Mukumba},
  title = {An Assessment of Wind Power Generation Potential for Margate Town in South Africa},
  journal = {International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering},
  volume = {4},
  number = {2},
  pages = {32-37},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepe.20150402.13},
  abstract = {Before setting up a wind farm at any given site, it is very important to evaluate its wind power potential to find its physical and economic sustainability. To date, there is limited research output on wind resource assessment for Margate town in South Africa and this might be one of the factors affecting the uptake of wind technologies in this area. This study aimed to assess the wind power potential of Margate. Three-year-long, hourly average wind speed series between January 2010 and December 2012 for Margate town were statistically analysed using the Weibull distribution function. The dimensionless Weibull shape parameter (k) varied from 2.1 to 2.2 while the scale parameter (c) ranged between 4.1 and 4.3 ms-1. The most probable wind speed (vmp) ranged from 3.0 to 3.2 ms-1. The wind power densities fluctuated from 57.8 to 64.0 Wm-2.The average of the measured wind speeds (vm) for the whole period was less than 5 ms-1.Basing on the wind classification done by European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), Margate town is not favourable for the installation of wind turbines. However according to the rule of thumb for mean yearly wind speeds set by American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the town is suitable for installation of stand-alone systems. It is thus recommended to small scale wind turbines for stand-alone applications such as supplying power to individual houses and irrigation in this town.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - An Assessment of Wind Power Generation Potential for Margate Town in South Africa
AU  - Chipo Shonhiwa
AU  - Patrick Mukumba
Y1  - 2015/02/26
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13
T2  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
JF  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
JO  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
SP  - 32
EP  - 37
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2326-960X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20150402.13
AB  - Before setting up a wind farm at any given site, it is very important to evaluate its wind power potential to find its physical and economic sustainability. To date, there is limited research output on wind resource assessment for Margate town in South Africa and this might be one of the factors affecting the uptake of wind technologies in this area. This study aimed to assess the wind power potential of Margate. Three-year-long, hourly average wind speed series between January 2010 and December 2012 for Margate town were statistically analysed using the Weibull distribution function. The dimensionless Weibull shape parameter (k) varied from 2.1 to 2.2 while the scale parameter (c) ranged between 4.1 and 4.3 ms-1. The most probable wind speed (vmp) ranged from 3.0 to 3.2 ms-1. The wind power densities fluctuated from 57.8 to 64.0 Wm-2.The average of the measured wind speeds (vm) for the whole period was less than 5 ms-1.Basing on the wind classification done by European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), Margate town is not favourable for the installation of wind turbines. However according to the rule of thumb for mean yearly wind speeds set by American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the town is suitable for installation of stand-alone systems. It is thus recommended to small scale wind turbines for stand-alone applications such as supplying power to individual houses and irrigation in this town.
VL  - 4
IS  - 2
ER  -

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