A new approach of determining wind energy potential of Sakarya-Esentepe region

In this study, statistical analysis of wind energy potential and possibility of producing electricity from the wind have been investigated. For this reason, wind energy potential of Sakarya-Esentepe region has been predicted by making measurements at 10 and 30 meters of a wind station. In the statistical analysis of wind potential, Weibull distribution has been employed. Furthermore, a Matlab code has been developed to make statistical estimations numerically. For the estimations of Weibull parameters maximum likelihood and graphical methods have been used. In addition to analyses by Matlab; JMB, WAsP and WindPRO software have also been used. In order to estimate suitable site of wind turbine, the type of turbine and most probable energy output, a wind turbine electricity analysis has been conducted. For such an analysis, three dimensional topological map of the mentioned region has been created numerically.Analyses based on Weibull distribution, which is conducted by using WindPRO, show that annual mean wind speed at 30 meters is 4,55 m/s, monthly mean wind speed takes its maximum value in January and minimum value in October. Seasonally speaking, the mean wind speed becomes a maximum in winter but takes it?s a minimum in the summer. Weibull parameters k and c for annual analyses have been calculated as 1,81 and 5,12 m/s, respectively. Meanwhile, mean annual power density has been calculated as 121,01 W/m2 Mean annual power density of wind takes its maximum value in January and its minimum value in October, as expected.Electricity analyses of a wind power plant for Sakarya-Esentepe region show that the most suitable fields for a wind farm are Tahtalık, Semercik and Çakırlıgeçit Tepe regions. Fuhrlander FL 2500 RT wind turbine with 2,5 MW nominal power, 160 m hub height and 100 m rotor diameter is the best candidate among the present turbines for the mentioned fields. If this type of turbine is employed in the proposed wind energy farm, consisting of 6 wind turbines with 15 MW installed capacity, total electricity produced will be 26658 MWh. In this case the capacity factor has been determined as 20,3 %.Moreover, for the specified installed capacity RES economic analysis has been performed. Analysis results, the unit cost of energy production by years was determined. The payback period of the investment has been estimated as 15 years and 3 months.