Assessing wind energy potential for electricity generation using WECS in eight selected stations of Ethiopia

Abstract

ABSTRACTWind utilisation for effective electricity generation has dated since last two decades by means of the modern wind turbines and has proved as a mature, reliable and efficient technology. This paper integrates the wind characteristics and performance of selected wind energy conversion systems (WECSs) from eight selected stations within Tigray region in Ethiopia. The wind speed data were collected over a period between 2002 and 2014. Based on the Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) classification, all the selected stations fall into Class 1. Therefore, these stations may be advised for small-scale power applications. Furthermore, the highest annual energy output achieved was 3902.31 MWh using VESTAS V110 – 2.0 at Mekele.