Economic Cluster Analisis and Fuzzy Modelling of Operation of Wind Power Plants in the Arctic

Abstract

Renewable resources are of particular importance in decentralized power systems typical of the Arctic and remote areas of a number of countries. One of the fastest growing renewable energy sources is kinetic wind energy used for power generation. Over the past two decades alone, the installed capacity of wind turbines in the European Union has increased hundreds of times, with a significant reduction in the cost of generation. The article discusses some aspects and features of wind power development in Northern and remote areas. In some areas of the Arctic coastal and remote areas, the wind speed has a fairly large value; on the one hand, it is considered highly favourable conditions for the economically efficient use of wind energy. On the other hand, wind speed exceeding certain limits can cause significant loads to be placed on wind turbines components and parts, resulting in the destruction of the device as a whole. The article discusses the possibilities of improving the reliability and durability of wind turbines operating under extreme loads. In addition, as a rule, wind farms are used where the wind speed is characterized by appropriate values, in places with low terrain and a shortage of natural resources. On the basis of methods of multidimensional scaling, cluster analysis, fuzzy modelling, the article investigates the possibilities for determining the most suitable, from the point of view of economic efficiency, places for installation of wind farms with optimization of schemes of their joint application. The technique of determining the wind characteristics and taking into account these characteristics to identify regions with the most favourable conditions for the use of wind turbines and the development of wind power in general are shown.