Wind Energy Resource Assessment and Development: Decision Analysis for Site Evaluation and Application

Abstract

In this article, a decision analysis methodology for wind energy resource assessment and development is developed and applied to the Larnaca District in Cyprus. The methodology consists of five steps: (i) formulation of a geo-data base and wind resource assessment with the Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program; (ii) establishment of constraint factors that would exclude sites from further examination; (iii) establishment of evaluation criteria and evaluation of possible sites; (iv) assessment of the weights of the evaluation criteria through the Analytic Hierarchy Process; and (v) aggregation of the criteria with the Simple Additive Weighting method, visualization of the results, and sensitivity analysis. An application of the framework in Larnaca District area in the island of Cyprus indicated that 0.1% (0.58 km2) of the study region is suitable for wind resource exploitation. The particular methodological framework applied and the results obtained can be utilized by potential investors and wind energy developers.