The Geological Features Applied To Suitability Of

Wind Farm Potential In Timor Leste

Jose Da Costa1*, Joaquim R. R. Cab1, Debora P. Do R. Da Silva1, Frederico F. S. Pereira1, Remigio I. M. De
Araujo1, Paulo Da C. De Araujo1, Adroaldo Manueal1, Mirzam Abdurrachman1,2, and Benigno De Deus3
1Department of Geology & Mining, Indonesian College of Mineral Technology (STTMI), Bandung, 40263, Indonesia
2Department of Geology, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Bandung 40132, Indonesia
3Independent Geologist, Dili, Timor Leste

Jl. Gatot Subroto No. 313b, Maleer, Batununggal, Bandung, Jawa Barat 40162
*Corresponding author email: zecosta26@gmail.com

Abstract: Wind power is sustainable and renewable energy and has

a much smaller impact on the environment compared to burning
fossil fuels. Timor Leste is a new country in the millennium era
with a population of approximately 1.2 million. Fossil energy diesel
is the main fuel for power plants in Timor Leste, in addition to solar
power and biogas. Timor Leste has the potential for renewable
energy as wind power, solar power, and hydropower which has not
been explored. Wind power identified as potential energy where the
average annual speed around 4-6 m/s, and spread out almost the
region. Wind power energy construction covers large terrain,
topographical modeling and analysis, geological interpretation,
hazards, and mitigation data recorded, carried out as one of the
milestones in supporting to development of wind farms project in
Timor Leste. Based on these geological features and general
parameters, conclude that Timor Leste has four wind farm areas
with an order of suitability from highest to lowest as Alpha zone in
Aileu district, Bravo zone covered Manatuto and Baucau districts,
Charlie zone covered Bobonaro and Covalima districts, Delta zone
covered Baucau and Lospalos districts. Figure 1. Wind turbine price indices and price trends from
1997 – 2018 based on Wised and Bollinger, 2018.
Keywords: Renewable Energy, Geology Timor Leste, Wind Power
Energy.
2. Data and Method
1. Introduction The topographical landforms played an important role in
wind speed stability. Hills concept (Kim et al, 1997) figure 2,
Wind power is one of the renewable energy were clean, free illustrates areas with striking difference in height, isolated
and environmentally friendly. The principle of wind power is hill, the steep slopes, will potentially produce wind
relying on the airflow generated by the differences in air turbulence which results in instability of wind speeds.
pressures. The utilization of wind power as energy essentially
has a relatively low price compared to conventional fossil
energy. However, the installation cost of wind turbines is the
main issue in addition to maintenance and skills. The
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA-2018)
analysis trend shown in figure 1, world presented the
significant decreases of the wind turbine prices up to 78%
since 1998 to 2018 from 2500 to 500 USD/KW. Timor Leste
is flanked by Indonesia in the western border limit and in the
south is Australia. Timor Leste in the construction phase
requires proper planning in order to appropriate future
sustainable investment. The energy sector of Timor Leste has
been mapped to inventory the resources of renewable energy
and one of the proposed for further study is wind farm. This
study is carried with the geo-environmental perspective as
initial study to determine the suitability spatial for the wind Figure 2. Hills concept (Kim et al, 1997) (a) a gentle slope,
farm project development. (b) Isolated hill, (c-d) difference height and steep slopes
Annual onshore wind speed data, radar topographic, regional
geological map and environmental risk data collected from
the various sources including spot field geological
observation to fill the preliminary investigation requirements
for wind farm project. Annual interpolated wind speed map
digitized with the boundary of the minimum required average
greater than or equal 4 m/s. Topographical analysis to
classify the required slope for an ideal wind turbine location.
Lithological and geotechnical observations to identify the
potentials of failure areas. Geochemistry of surfaces sample
data used to classify the alkali and silicate minerals group in
related to the conductivity materials.
3. Result and Discussion
The distribution of wind power potentials in Timor Leste
shown in figure 3, spread in four zones as Alpha zone
covered Aileu district, Bravo zone covered Manatuto and
Baucau districts, Charlie zone covered Bobonaro and
Covalima districts, Delta zone covered Baucau and Lospalos
districts.
Figure 3. Annual wind speeds (Indonesia wind prospecting,
2015) distribution map in Timor Leste.
3.1 Alpha Zone (Aileu District)
Alpha zone is the highest propose for wind farm project
location with the average annual wind speed at 5 m/s.
Landforms of alpha zone dominated by the shallow hill with
gentle curvatures change, slope ranged from 0 to 8 degrees
with a trend to northeast and southwest, shown in figure 4a.
Figure 4a. Slope classification map of Alpha zone
(Topographic source: SRTM map, 2008).
Metasedimentary units as slate and phyllite covered most
region with minor presence of clastic limestone, schist, shale,
and volcanic clastic in the southern part, shown in figure 4b.
Silicate minerals group distributed rather rare and associate
with marble, limestone, andesite and quartz sand. In the
environmental risk, the alpha zone has no significant failure
and damage potential identified. Some shallow earthquake
points recorded with a moderate magnitude 4 to 5 Richter
Scale.
Figure 4b. Geological, Minerals and Risk map of Alpha
zone.
Source:
 S. Bachri & R. L. Situmorang, Geological map of Dili
sheet, 1994
 USGS, Earthquake Datasets, 2019.
 UN, Atlas of Mineral Resources of The Escap Region-
Timor Leste, 2004.
3.2 Bravo Zone (Manatuto and Baucau Districts)
Bravo zone is the medium rank for wind farm project
location with the average annual wind speed at 5 m/s.
Landforms and the topographic of bravo zone have a similar
style to the alpha zone, figure 5a.
Figure 5a. Slope classification map of Bravo zone
(Topographic source: SRTM map, 2008).
This zone has composed by sedimentary units as clastic and
coral limestone, black shale, quartz sand, sandstone, and
scaly clay matrix mix of boulder sized fragments, shown in
figure 5b. Silicate minerals group distributed rather rare and
associated with limestone and bentonite, while a spot of
sulfide mineral presented in the eastern zone. The middle of
this zone has unstable area that affected by landslides which
resulted from the complexities of lithological contact. Deep
earthquake points recorded with a moderate magnitude 3 to 5
Richter scale.
Figure 5b. Geological, Minerals and Risk map of Bravo
zone.
Source:
 E. Partoyo, B. Hermanto & S. Bachri, Geological Map Of
Baucau Quadrangle, 1995.
 USGS, Earthquake Datasets, 2019.
 UN, Atlas of Mineral Resources of The Escap Region-
Timor Leste, 2004.
 RIMES, Climate Risk Management in Timor Leste, 2013.
3.3 Charlie Zone (Bobonaro and Covalima Districts)
This zone is the low rank for wind farm project location. The
average annual wind speed for this zone at 6 m/s. Charlie
zone has landforms styled by hills with linear slopes and
discontinued curvature changes. Steep slopes with a range
from 8 to 35 degrees, shown in figure 6a.
Figure 6a. Slope classification map of Charlie zone
(Topographic source: SRTM map, 2008).
Lithological of Charlie zone composed with scaly clay matrix
mix of boulder-sized fragments, coralline limestone, shale,
sandstone, volcanic clast, and the complexities resulted
strong landslides along the narrow hills to the northeast,
shown in figure 6b. Silicate minerals group distributed rather
rare and associate to clay, bentonite, dolomite, calcilutite and
marble. While some spots of sulfide mineral presented in
southern area. This zone is quite intense of shallow
earthquake points with a moderate magnitude 3 to 5 Richter
scale.
Figure 6b. Geological, Minerals and Risk map of Charlie
zone.
Source:
 S. Bachri & R. L. Situmorang, Geological map of Dili
sheet, 1994.
 USGS, Earthquake Datasets, 2019.
 UN, Atlas of Mineral Resources of The Escap Region-
Timor Leste, 2004.
 RIMES, Climate Risk Management in Timor Leste, 2013.
3.4 Delta Zone (Baucau and Lospalos Districts)
This zone is is unsuitable for wind farm project location.
Average of annual wind speed recorded at 6 m/s, landforms
styled by the shallow hill with gentle curvature changes and
slopes range from 0 to 8 degrees, shown in figure 7a.
Figure 7a. Slope classification map of Delta zone
(Topographic source: SRTM map, 2008).
This zone almost covered with coral limestone, agglomerate
tuff, scaly clay matrix mix of boulder sized fragments, marly
conglomerate and sandstone. The southeast of this zone has
an unstable area which resulted from the complexities
lithological contact, shown in figure 7b. This zone also
located to the Tropical Cyclone Lili’s hurricane track from
the southeast of Timor Leste (geological map figure 6
Bottom). Silicate minerals group distributed rather rare and
associate to quartz sand, limestone and marble, while a spot
of alkali mineral presented in the contact zone of scaly clay
and limestone. Deep Earthquake points recorded with a
moderate magnitude 4 to 6 Richter scale.
[8] IRENA, Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2018,
2019.
[9] RIMES, Climate Risk Management in Timor Leste,
UNDP, Timor Leste, 2013.
[10] S. Bachri & R. L. Situmorang, Geological Map Of Dili
Sheet, East Timor, P3G, Bandung Indonesia, 1994.
[11] United Nations, Atlas of Mineral Resources of the
Escap Region, vol 17, Timor Leste.
[12] Van Zuidam, et al, Guide to Geomorphologic aerial
photographic interpretation and mapping, 1983.

Acknowledgement
We would like to thank all those who have contributed to
finalizing this study.

Figure 7b. Geological, Minerals and Risk map of Delta zone.

Source:
 E. Partoyo, B. Hermanto & S. Bachri, Geological Map Of
Baucau Quadrangle, 1995.
 USGS, Earthquake Datasets, 2019.
 UN, Atlas of Mineral Resources of The Escap Region-
Timor Leste, 2004.
 RIMES, Climate Risk Management in Timor Leste, 2013.

4. Conclusion
This preliminary study with the geo-environmental
perspectives concluded that Timor Leste has four zones of
onshore wind farm potential. The Highest rank of suitability
proposed for the wind farm is the Alpha zone which covered
Aileu district and the Medium rank is Bravo zone which
covered Manatuto disctrict. Charlie zone has constrained by
the landforms model and unstable surfaces. While Delta zone
has constrained by the coralline limestone units and unstable
surfaces.

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