Techno-economic assessment of wind farm for sustainable power generation in Northern coastal region of Arabian sea

Abstract

Northern coastal region of Arabian sea has an abundant wind potential available throughout the year which can be utilized for meeting the energy demands in this region. This study presents a techno-economic evaluation of a 100MW wind farm at Gwadar region of Pakistan which is ideally located at the shores of Arabian sea and holds great strategic and economic significance. Several feasibility studies have been undertaken on this location; however, this analysis is carried out using on-site wind data on an hourly basis as well as the most recent financial factors along with optimized wind farm design configuration. Empirical relationships are presented for analyzing the long-term economic feasibility of wind farm. Results indicate that annual energy production of 29,7859 MWh is possible with an optimized design of wind farm that will help to reduce 12,648 equivalent tons of CO2 emissions. Moreover, a positive net present value, levelized cost of electricity around 9.08 ¢/kWh, and payback period of approximately 4 years justify the economic viability of the proposed wind farm design at Gwadar region. This study will serve as a valuable reference for similar wind profile site locations in India and Iran. Moreover, this study presents long-term economic feasibility with site specific analysis which can provide prospects for investment in sustainable energy development and increase its utilization in developing countries.