The evaluation of wind energy based on the inherent nature of wind speed assessment at Fujairah (UAE)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to determine the probability of wind speed and extracted energy at Fujairah site (UAE), based on the assessment of wind characteristics, that has been conducted with wind speed and direction measurements for over a year period (Nov. 2019-Mar. 2021), using Fast Fourier Transform, wavelet and regression analyses. Being highly Weibull, the scale and shape factors of the probability distribution function are evaluated from the mean wind speed, and at different heights, as well the probabilities at these heights. The focus of the study was on the heavily fluctuating and random nature of wind regime, during November – March, that is visible in the coefficients of the signals details since this is the period when heavier wind speeds occur, whereas a relatively calm weather is experienced during the year. The probability of wind speed, power density and extracted energy are evaluated for the mean wind speed, and for the most accessed (mode) speed and speed-rmc. The wind speed pattern is largely Weibull, with shape factor of 1.25. The scale factor is evaluated to be 2.2 m/s from the velocity occurrence probability. With mean wind speed of around 4 mph, it is suggested that the lack of wind speed can be aggregated with the penetration of other renewable energy systems such as hybrid solar, wind, PV and battery storage banks. With these hybrid systems, the diurnal and turbulence effects on wind speed harvesting, can also be compensated for to reduce wind speed variability, which depends on the daily and seasonally load demand pattern at site.