Potential Evaluation of Wind Energy in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia through Weibull Distribution Method

Abstract

Malaysia faces many challenges in the development of wind energy as it is located in areas with slower wind speeds. Malaysia is located on the equator line where land and sea breezes can affect the wind regime. The wind does not blow uniformly and fluctuate by month and area. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine the potential of the latest wind power in Kuala Terengganu. The scope of the study was not comprehensive because it focused only on Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia which is located at latitude 5° 23′ N and longitude 103° 06′ E. The wind data used in this study was obtained from the Malaysian Meteorological Department. The wind data that had been observed and collected was the wind direction and wind speed for year 2017 where the height of the sea level is 5.2 meters. This study uses the Weibull Distribution method as it shows a good consideration to estimate the density of wind power in Malaysia [1] The daily wind speed pattern for year 2017 can be seen that it has a corresponding pattern where it shows high wind speed at the beginning and end of the year. The wind speed frequency is also variable for the winds of the Northeast Monsoon and is almost constant during the south monsoon of the Southwest Monsoon and the Transition Monsoon. Overall, the potential of wind power in Kuala Terengganu is not too large. The annual average for 2017 is 2.01 m/s only. Wind power is high during the Northeast Wind Monsoon season.