Title: Time-space variability of surface wind power in Kenya

Authors: C. Oludhe, L. Ogallo

Addresses: Department of Meteorology, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya. ' Department of Meteorology, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract: In this study maximum, minimum and mean daily wind speed records obtained from twenty-four Kenyan sites, and concentrated within the period 1946-1980, were used to study the time-space characteristics of the surface wind power over Kenya. These daily records were used to estimate the diurnal and seasonal values of the maximum, minimum and mean wind power expectations at the various sites. The estimates of the wind powers were based on the three-parameter Weibull distribution which had been noted as the best statistical distribution for the Kenyan daily wind records. The parameters for the three-parameter Weibull distribution frequency curves were also used to discuss some optimum wind speed limits for power generators over parts of Kenya. The results from the study indicated that the location and shape parameters of the three-parameter Weibull distributions could be used to give some indications of the wind power potential over parts of Kenya. In general all sites with high wind power potentials had scale parameters greater than 5. The high potential regions were generally located around Marsabit and Maralal. Other high potential areas were located over the central and southern parts of the Indian Ocean Coast. Maximum power densities were in the range of 184.4 and 159.7 W m−2 for the Marsabit and Maralal regions, respectively. The moderate wind power potential areas were located around Nairobi (Embakasi) Mandera and Garissa where the values of the mean wind power densities range between 75-81 W m−2. The low wind power potential areas include Makindu, Narok and the Central Rift Valle regions. Lake Victoria regions however had maximum wind power densities above 60 W m−2, but the daily minimum power values were generally very low (10 W m−2) throughout the year. The Weibull frequency and relative cumulative curves indicated that the optimum rating speed for the wind generators were about 6 and 3.5 m s−1 for the high and moderate wind power potential regions of Kenya.

Keywords: Kenya; power density; time-space variability; wind power; wind energy; wind speed; power generation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.1990.063717

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 1990 Vol.2 No.2, pp.133-140

Published online: 19 Jul 2014 *

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