Influence of Natural and Cost Factors on the Choice of Optimal Wind Power Plant Capacity as Part of a Wind-Diesel System in the East of Russia

Abstract

The paper presents the results of testing the methods for determining optimal capacity of wind power plant for offgrid consumers. Analysis of hydrometeorological data on yearly variation in long-term average wind speed in the eastern regions of Russia allows us to identify three characteristic groups of annual distribution of this parameter depending on territory. For each of the groups the relationships between the ratio of an optimal wind power plant capacity to a maximum off-grid consumer load and wind resource indices and annual distribution are presented. The research substantiates that capital investment of the wind power plant construction project and prices of replaced diesel fuel do not affect the value of optimal wind power plant capacity but make a considerable impact on the costeffectiveness of the projects.