THE POTENTIAL OF OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY IN THE EAST COAST OF PENINSULAR MALAYSIA, TERENGGANU

Abstract

A detailed understanding of wind characteristics is very important for offshore wind energy development. A 26 years of wind speed data (1993-2018) were retrieved using Radar Altimeter Database System (RADS) to assess the potentiality of offshore wind energy in Terengganu waters. Seasonal assessment and wind energy density derivation was carried out to choose the potential location for wind energy development. This study highlights the multi-criteria site suitability analysis using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and is supported by the geographical information system (GIS) by developing a suitability map. The site suitability analysis considered a few criteria, such as seasonal assessment, physical, environmental, and wind resources. Theoretically, the Terengganu area possessed strong wind during the Northeast monsoon with an average of 3.46m/s and experienced up to 6 m/s during this monsoon. For offshore areas, which is more than 50km from the coastline, Terengganu waters experienced a maximum of wind speed more than 5m/s and the average wind power density varied from 40W/m2 to 60W/m2. While Tenggol Island possessed a maximum wind speed between 3m/s to 5m/s and produce up to 40W/m2 of average wind energy density. From the suitability analysis, a few areas are identified as the potential location with an optimum resource of wind energy. Even though, Malaysia is located at low wind area, this research will help organisation or governments to plan suitable technology and policy for harvesting wind energy.