Title: Wind energy assessment for Timimoun

Authors: Youcef Himri, Amine Boudghene Stambouli, Saliha Himri, Belkacem Draoui

Addresses: Electricity and Gas National Enterprise (Sonelgaz), 05 Rue Mokadem Ahmed, Bechar 08000, Algeria. ' Department of Electronics, University of Sciences and Technology of Oran, BP 1505, El M'Naouer, Oran (31000), Algeria. ' Department of Fundamental Sciences, University of Bechar, 05 Rue, Mokadem Ahmed Bechar (08000), Algeria. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Algeria Universite de Bechar, BP 417 (08000), Algeria

Abstract: This paper presents the analysis of wind speed data and available wind energy in Timimoun. The measured data used in the study covered a period of 11 years between 1977 and 1988. The analysis indicates that overall, higher monthly mean wind speeds of the order of 5 m/s or more are observed during March to September. Higher wind speeds were observed in the daytime between 09:00 and 18:00 hours and relatively smaller during rest of the period. The frequency distribution showed that the wind remained above 3 m/s for 68% of the time during the year at 68.5m above ground level. The annual wind energy production and plant capacity factors were obtained using two methods: the RETScreen model and the actual frequency and wind turbine power curve (WPC) are also discussed and compared.

Keywords: capacity factor; frequency distribution; Timimoun; wind energy; wind power; Algeria; wind speed data; wind turbines.

DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2009.023256

International Journal of Agile Systems and Management, 2009 Vol.4 No.1/2, pp.182 - 190

Published online: 15 Feb 2009 *

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