Identification of Wind Power Potential for Phases I and II Wind Farms in Brazil Using Various Statistical Estimation Models and WAsP

The less promising but still feasible sites for wind farm development are the areas between the State of Santa Catarina and the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. To better understand the available wind energy potential in the region, a wind resource assessment was carried out for Phases I and II wind farms in Santa Vitoria do Palmar, Brazil. The data used for wind analysis were collected from April 2007 to March 2008 at a meteorological mast height of 101 m. Ten-minute data on wind speed, standard deviation, wind direction, relative humidity, environmental temperature, and pressure were recorded. Analytical estimation models were employed to determine the Weibull parameters necessary for calculating the annual average wind speed, mean power density, cumulative distribution, and probability density functions of the wind regime. The probability density function statistical results were analyzed at two different heights—the reference height of 101 m and the hub height of 80 m. The outcomes were then compared with the WAsP numerical output. The analysis showed that the energy pattern factor method has a confidence level above 97.5% with a correlation coefficient of 100%. The calculation results indicated that the annual mean wind speed at 80 m hub height was 8.10 m/s. This suggests that the site is suitable for IEC 61400-1 Ed.3 Class II wind turbine generators. The characteristic wind turbulence at a reference height of 101 m was classified as IEC Subclass C. Among the selected wind turbine generators, the 2.5 MW AV928 has the highest capacity factor at 41.22% and the lowest levelized energy cost of US$44.36 per MWh. Additionally, WAsP was utilized to numerically estimate the net annual energy production for the locality. Based on the proposed arrangement of wind turbines, the predicted net annual energy production, considering the wake loss effects, is expected to be 104.92 GWh/year for Phase I and 456.89 GWh/year for Phase II of the wind farms.