Wind-solar energy potentials for three free trade and industrial zones of Iran

Abstract

This paper presents analysis of wind-solar potential for major three free trade and industrial zones in Iran. For this purpose, the available measured solar and wind data of the cities (Chabahar, Kish and Salafchegan) including horizontal global solar radiation, and wind speed data at 10 m elevation were analyzed. Also, key solar parameters like monthly mean global, beam and diffuse solar radiation as well as clearness index were investigated too. For analyzing the wind potentials, Weibull Distribution Function (WDF) was performed at different heights. The annual wind speeds and wind powers of locations at 20, 30 and 40 m heights were calculated. The study results clearly demonstrate that wind as a renewable energy source can supply a portion of the energy demands for Kish and Salafchegan with yearly wind powers of 111.28 W/m2 and 114.34 W/m2, respectively ranked in class 2 which are considered marginal for wind power development. It was also illustrated that all three locations had great potentials for utilizing different solar energy applications. In addition, the monthly, seasonal, seim-yearly and yearly optimum tilt angles of south facing solar collectors and panels were determined. For all locations adjusting the tilt angle twice a year or in other words, the semi-yearly tilt adjustment for two periods of warm and cold were suggested.