Micrositing and Optimization Analysis of Onshore Wind Energy Potential

in Northern part of Kota Bharu, Kelantan

A. Albani1, M.Z. Ibrahim1, K.H. Yong1
1
Renewable Energy Research Group, Department of Engineering Science, Faculty of Science and Technology,
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu,21030, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to predict and optimized the wind energy potential over the
Northern part of Kota Bahru, Kelantan. The wind data for year 2011 was collected from
Malaysia Meteorological Department (MMD) and then extrapolated to the hub heights of
various turbines. Wind turbines with rated powers between 1 kW and 50 kW were chosen for
annual energy production calculations and best fitted ones were used for the micrositting
analysis. In this study, the turbine with 22 kW rated power with hub height 30 m was selected
based on its best value of capacity factor. The wind speed frequency per year high peaks in
the range 1-5 m/s, this indicates that most of the wind speed at Kota Bahru lies in this range.
The energy simulation was done with optimization of three scenarios of the wind farm. The
wind farm with 8RD WTG distance was selected as the best scenario due to its highest value
of capacity factor (8.0%) and park efficiency (95.3%). The economic analysis was done by
calculation of Net Present Value (NPV), Payback Period (PBP) and Internal Rate of Return
(IRR) to determine the profitability and economic benefits of the project.

Keywords: (Wind energy, FiT, Micrositing, WindPRO, Kota Bahru)

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