Wind flow simulation and characteristics prediction using WAsP software for energy planning over the region of Hassi R’mel

ABSTRACT

In this study, we analyzed the wind potential of Hassi R’mel (Algeria) under the Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program (WAsP) environment, using data measurements at a height of 10 m provided by the National Office of Meteorology (NOM) over the period of 14 years (2003–2017). The results are used as input for predicting wind characteristics (speed and direction) for four other sites covering the studied region where the measurement stations are not available. The pre-feasibility study of large-scale energy and hydrogen production focuses on four sites, namely Telghemt, Delaa, Bouzbier, and Bellil. Two different wind turbine models, Bonus B54 and Nordex N100 with a rated power of 1000 kW and 2500 kW, respectively, were selected. The study pointed out that the region of Hassi R’mel has an important wind potential with an annual mean wind speed of 6.73 m/sec and power density of 365 W/m² at 10 m. The maximum of energy and hydrogen produced occurs for the site of Hassi R’mel with 12.41 GWh/yr, and 177.37 tons H₂/yr, with minimal costs of 5.5 c$/kWh, and 18.42 $/kg H₂ respectively using Nordex N100 wind turbine at 100 m. Similarly for the site of Bellil where the maximum of energy and hydrogen production of 5.395 GWh/yr, and 77.08 tons H₂/yr were obtained with minimal costs of 5.06 c$/kWh, and 17.12 $/kg H₂ respectively using Bonus B54 wind turbine at 60 m. Therefore, the high rate of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions avoided by N100 was 5428.2 tons CO₂/kWh for Hassi R’mel, and 2359.2 tons CO₂/kWh for Bellil using the B54 wind turbine.

KEYWORDS:

• CO₂
• cost
• energy
• Hassi R’mel
• hydrogen
• potential
• predicting
• WAsP

Nomenclature

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. Boudia S.M at Wind Energy Department for his advice and his assistance with WAsP. We are also grateful for the help we received from our colleague Mrs. Haddouche to achieve the environmental analysis section.