Investigation of wind potential of the Eastern Mediterranean region

Turkey's energy policies in recent years has focused on renewable energy resources according to the Country's high energy needs and working to ensure that its energy needs from domestic sources. Turkey is a country with the highest wind energy potential. However, in terms of wind, many fertile regions have still not been brought into economy. In this study, a region with high wind potential was analyzed and pre-feasibility studies of a wind power plant, which is supposed to be installed in the region, were conducted. The study was carried out in two stages. In the first part of the study conducted in Belen district of Hatay province, the wind energy potential for each year was examined with the help of WAsP program by using the data of Belen meteorological station between 2013-2016. There is also a wind power plant in the same region that has been operating since 2012 and has a real energy production value. Two wind turbines were selected as reference in the wind power plant region. The actual production values of the two turbines and the annual electric energy production values were compared by WAsP program. These two wind turbines allowed to do error analysis in theoretical studies. In the second part of the study, it is assumed that 30 MW wind power plant will be installed in Guzelyayla region which is found to be efficient in terms of wind on the wind energy potential atlas prepared in the first part of the study. As a result of the technical analysis, the annual production amount and capacity factor of the power plant were found. In the light of these data, pre-feasibility study of the plant was carried out with the help of Retscreen program. With this study, many results have been obtained such as simple payback period, equity repayment period, profitability, cash flow and equivalent CO2 emission reduction of the power plant to be installed. As a result, it is determined that Belen region have high and very high wind energy potential areas and there are areas with high wind energy potentials have been identified, except in the regions where already plants are installed. It is concluded that wind power plant can be established and positive results can be obtained in these areas.