Wind potency in the western sector of the Russian Arctic and its possible uses

Abstract

The assessment of the wind conditions in the western sector of the Russian Arctic is given. The average long-term wind speeds in the region were determined as a result of long-term wind speed observations on the meteorological stations. High wind potency areas were highlighted, which are the most promising for the use of wind power plants (WPP). Coastal areas established to have winter wind speed peak, which coincides with the heat and electricity peak demand during the cold season. This is a favorable prerequisite for the successful wind energy use for the needs of electricity and heating supply. The wind speed repeatability in the areas under consideration is studied, allowing the wind energy valuation. The possibility of flattening of actual of wind speeds distributions is shown by using the Weibull density function. Involving this, regional wind energy technical resources assessment was made, turned out to be almost two orders of magnitude higher than the current annual energy consumption of the Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions. The most promising directions of the regional high potency wind resources possible practical use are shown. The prospects for the wind farms construction and their introduction into the Kola energy system are considered, where eleven hydroelectric power stations with a total capacity of about 1,000 megawatts operate in a high wind potency zone on the coast of the Barents Sea and where, due to this circumstance, the prospects for the systemic wind power development are most obvious. The possible economic benefit from the wind power plants participation in the local diesel power plants and boiler plants operation was also assessed. That very effect is substantial saving of expensive imported fossil fuels.