Techno-economical optimization of wind energy potential and implementation of an electrical energy system equivalent to a 60 MW production plant in the Laghouat region

Abstract

This work is a contribution to the techno-economic study of the feasibility of setting up the wind power plant with a capacity of 60 MW for electricity production in the Laghouat region. The wind power plant is equipped with a hydrogen storage system to ensure continuity of service and the autonomy of consumption during the night of the existing photovoltaic power plant in the study area. This current study focuses on the site of EL kheneg corridor Elhouita, from daily data of wind speed-readings taken every 10 minutes and at an altitude of 10 meters, between 2012 and 2014, obtained by the auxiliary metrological station of Laghouat, located in the same studied corridor. It appears that the wind on this site is regular and is spreading in a South-West (SW) direction, with stable average seasonal speeds between 5.71 m/s in autumn, and 7.44 m/s in summer. Using statistical laws for the temporal characterization of wind parameters and extrapolation laws for the spatial characterization of wind speed to express the statistical estimate of the wind energy potential at different altitudes. Then, the wind direction is established for the orientation of the turbo-generators in the implementation phase. After, the prediction of the electrical energy produced is evaluated while taking into account the choice of wind turbines and their load factors. Finally, the economic study to estimate the unit cost of wind energy in ($/kW) and the cost of hydrogen production in ($/kg).

Keywords

• wind turbine
• wind energy production
• weibull distribution
• wind energy potential
• wind speed analysis