Feasibility Study of a Wind Farm in El Golea Region in the Algerian Sahara

Abstract

El Golea region, which previous studies have revealed to have a good wind potential, is chosen for a technical and economic study of a wind farm. This work aims to calculate the kWh cost of electricity produced by four types of wind turbines. The wind climate of the region is determined using WAsP software, based on wind speed and direction measurements at 10 m a.g.l. over a period of 10 years, from 2007 to 2016. The annual characteristics of the wind are calculated and their respective values are: 5.3 m/s for the average speed, 6 m/s and 2.04 for the Weibull parameters A and k and 169 W/m2 for the power density. The wind speed at 10 m is mapped over the entire study area and an optimal site is chosen for the installation of a wind farm. Four turbine models are chosen and the annual energy produced by each of them at the site is calculated as well as the cost per unit (CPU). The minimum cost of electricity generated is $0.0144 / kWh for an Annual Energy Production of 10.616 GWh and is given by the VESTAS V90 rated power of 2MW turbine. Finally, the annual energy produced by a wind farm consisting of five (05) VestasV90–2MW, is estimated to be about 51 GWh with wake losses of the order of it%.