Comparative analysis of wind power energy potential at two coastal locations in Bangladesh

Abstract

In this study, wind conditions and its energy potential have been assessed by conducting a Weibull analysis of the wind speed data (over the period of 2002-2011) measured from a port city (Mongla) and an isolated island (Sandwip) in Bangladesh. The monthly mean wind speed at Mongla ranged from 1.60 m/s (December) to 2.47 m/s (April). The monthly values of Weibull shape parameter (k) were from 1.27 to 2.53. In addition, the values of the scale parameter (c) and the monthly wind power density ranged from 1.76 to 2.79 m/s and 3.95 to 17.45 W/ m2, respectively. The seasonal mean wind speed data varied from 1.72 (fall) to 2.29 m/s (spring) with the wind power density from 5.33 (fall) to 14.26 W/ m2 (spring). In the case of Sandwip, the results were comparable to those of Mongla, but moderate reductions in all the comparable variables were observed. The wind data results of these two areas have been compared with those of eight other locations in the world with respect to wind power generation scale. According to this comparison, the wind power generation scale for Mongla and Sandwip was adequate for stand-alone small/micro-scale applications such as local household consumption, solar-wind hybrid irrigation pumps, and battery charging.