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Journal of Energy in Southern Africa

On-line version ISSN 2413-3051
Print version ISSN 1021-447X

J. energy South. Afr. vol.23 n.2 Cape Town  2012

 

Statistical analysis of wind speed and wind power potential of Port Elizabeth using Weibull parameters

 

 

Temitope R Ayodele; Adisa A Jimoh; Josiah L Munda; John T Agee

Department of Electrical Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa

 

 


ABSTRACT

This paper analyses wind speed characteristics and wind power potential of Port Elizabeth using statistical Weibull parameters. A measured 5-minute time series average wind speed over a period of 5 years (2005 - 2009) was obtained from the South African Weather Service (SAWS). The results show that the shape parameter (k) ranges from 1.319 in April 2006 to 2.107 in November 2009, while the scale parameter (c) varies from 3.983m/s in May 2008 to 7.390 in November 2009.The average wind power density is highest during Spring (September-October), 256.505W/m2 and lowest during Autumn (April-May), 152.381W/m2. This paper is relevant to a decision-making process on significant investment in a wind power project.

Keywords: statistical analysis, wind power density, wind speed, Weibull parameters, Port Elizabeth


 

 

Full text available only in PDF format.

 

Acknowledgements

The authors want to thank the Tshwane University of Technology for the support of this research and also the South African Weather Services for providing the data used for the study.

 

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Received 30 November 2010
Revised 24 February 2012

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