Techno-economic feasibility of two onshore wind farms located in the desert area: a case study

ABSTRACT

Onshore wind energy technology has the potential to solve major energy and climate change problems through clean generation, as well as drive economic development and job creation. This study aims, through a technical and economic analysis, to reveal the wind potential of two terrestrial sites of the province of Tantan, characterized by an average wind speed higher than 5 m/s. Technical analysis is performed to estimate annual energy production, while the economic viability of these two onshore wind farms is discussed using the Present Value Cost method. The results recorded over a period of 5 years of wind speed data gave power density values of 74.62 W/m² for Tantan−1 and 149.89 W/m² for Tantan−2. Accordingly, with a commercial wind turbine named NORDEX N90, the production cost in Tantan−1 and Tantan−2 for 1 kWh is approximately 3.45 US Cent/kWh and 3.87 US Cent/kWh, respectively. To confirm these results, a comparative analysis with the costs of the various national technologies for the production of thermal or solar energy was carried out. The calculations showed very competitive costs for the two sites studied at the national level, knowing that, this region will host one of the world’s largest green energy export and storage projects.

KEYWORDS:

• Wind speed
• Weibull distribution
• Present value cost
• Wind turbine
• Tantan province

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mohammed Daoudi

Dr Mohammed Daoudi is a professor at the Faculty of Sciences and a member of the solar energy and environment team, Department of Physics, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco.

Abdelaziz Ait Sidi Mou

Dr Abdelaziz Ait Sidi Mou is a professor at the Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, Errachidia, Morocco.

Ahmed Idrissi

Dr Ahmed Idrissi is a member of the solar energy and environment team of the Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco.

Ilham Ihoume

Dr Ilham Ihoume is a member of the solar energy and environment team of the Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco.

Nora Arbaoui

Ms Nora Arbaoui is a PhD student at the Faculty of Sciences, member of the solar energy and environment team, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco.

Mohammed Benchrifa

Dr Mohammed Benchrifa is a member of the solar energy and environment team at the Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco.

Nkongho Ayuketang Arreyndip

Dr Nkongho Ayuketang Arreyndip is a member of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.

Abdoulkader Ibrahim Idriss

Dr. Abdoulkader Ibrahim Idriss is a professor in the Faculty of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Energy Engineering, University of Djibouti, Djibouti.