Wind capacity factor calculator

Abstract

The wind capacity factor calculator is developed to perform two main tasks: to estimate the annual energy production from the wind resource at any location in South Africa, and to compare the two datasets used in its operation with standard error analysis to determine whether both datasets are suitable for use. This paper focuses on how the software was developed and on error analysis between the CSIR PV/ wind aggregation study data and the latest Wind Atlas for South Africa data. The results will indicate the way forward after determining whether the error found between the two datasets is significant enough to replace the former with latter, going forward.