EXPLORING WIND ENERGY POTENTIAL IN KPK-PAKISTAN BY USING MULTI CRITERIA APPROACH

Abstract

Renewable energy resources have great potential to give solution to the long-lasting energy deficiency problems being faced by Pakistan. The aim of this study was to make use of multi criteria analysis for the identification of wind potential sites in KPK, Pakistan by utilizing the monthly 10 years (1983-1993) and 22 years (1983-2005) annual average wind speed data sets for the six districts (Chitral, Peshawar, Dir, DIK, Buner and Mansehra) at 10m and 50m, 100m, 150m, 300m altitudes, Earth Skin Temperature (0 C) and Atmospheric Pressure (kpa) respectively. At 10 m altitude, annual wind speed analysis showed similar pattern among all the districts, each with two maximum peaks one in April and the other between October and November. Multi-criteria Approach involved, creating suitable criteria for selected variables then classification (based on each variable magnitude), scores were then assigned to each class. Based on methodology (MCA) applied in this research, Chitral district appeared as the best location for exploiting in terms of wind power.