ABSTRACT

The generation of electrical energy from wind can be economically achieved only if a significant wind resource exits. The sites with small percentage differences in average wind speeds can have a substantial difference in available energy because of the cubic relationship between the wind speed and output power. Therefore, accurate and throughout monitoring of a wind resource at a site is a critical factor in the sitting of wind turbines. The information on the wind characteristics is important in identifying a good potential site. The objective of the present study is to estimate wind power potential in the region of Dabolim, Goa, India, by using hourly average wind data recorded for a period of one year. The wind characteristics are analyzed using a statistical analysis approach and the Weibull parameters such as the scale parameter and shape parameter that are estimated using the energy pattern factor method. The results presented include monthly, seasonal, and annual values of average wind speed, standard deviation, prevalent wind direction, air density, turbulence intensity, energy pattern factor, Weibull parameters, probability density distribution function, cumulative distribution function, wind power density, and variation of wind power density at different heights.