Optimal power density estimation in Sub-Saharan Africa regions based on Weibull distribution parameters

The production of wind energy requires knowledge of certain wind speeds and directions. Several tools are used for this purpose to characterize the wind power, including the Weibull distribution function with two parameters, shape factor k, and the scale factor c. In this paper six methods Graphical Method (GP), Empirical Method of Justus (EMJ), Empirical Method of Lysen (EML), Energy Pattern Factor (EPF), Maximum Likelihood (ML), and Moroccan Method (MMa) are used to estimate Weibull distribution parameters to evaluate the wind potential an its power density. Twelve sites in West African sub-region such as Abuja, Accra Kotoka, Bamako Senou, Conakry Gbessia, Cotonou Cadjehoun, Kano Mallam Aminu, Lagos Ikeja, Lome Tokoin, Niamey, Niamtougou, Ouagadougou, Tambacounda were selected as case studies. For each selected site, hourly wind speed data collected at 10 m height for the twelve years from January 2011 to December 2023 are used. The evaluations of each method were carried out every month and statistical criteria to provide a more complete analysis. The results show that the EPF, EMJ, EML, and ML provide highly desirable better performance while the GP and MMa showed poor performance for all stations. For all sites, the EPF was recognized as the most appropriate method except for the Lagos site where the EMJ ranks first on the others. The methods that ranked second after EPF varied among the sites.