Influence of seasonal air density fluctuations on wind speed distribution in complex terrains in the context of energy yield

Abstract

Abstract Given the variable nature of wind speed and the importance of accurately determining the energy that can be generated at a given site, understanding the wind speed at different time scales is crucial. In addition to differences within a very short period (i.e., hourly and daily), these changes are also pronounced throughout the seasons. They are affected by the atmospheric conditions and the terrain's complexity. Therefore, this study investigates the seasonal wind speed variability and its impact on the potential energy generation in a representative study case of Koznica, the mountainous region in Kosovo. The wind speed measurements campaign started in May 2019 and ended in April 2020; the measurements were made at a 10 min time scale. Ground measurements show that the wind direction is mainly northwest and southeast. Then, the wind speed and potential energy generation variability analysis were conducted for three different measurement heights. The results show that winter and spring have the highest potential wind energy capacity with an average speed of 6.7 m/s. In comparison, the average wind speed is 6.12 m/s. Potential energy generation for each season (i.e., spring, summer, autumn, and winter is as follows: 64,396.7, 22,040.3, 42,539.3, and 46,417.2 MWh/year, respectively, while the average capacity factor is 25%. Solution-oriented findings from this study might provide valuable insights to policymakers and investors regarding wind power energy exploration in Kosovo and other places with similar geo-climatic conditions.