An Assessment of Wind Energy Potential for the Three Topographic Regions of Eritrea

Teklebrhan Negash, Erik Möllerström and Fredric Ottermo
Additional contact information
Teklebrhan Negash: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mai-Nefhi College of Engineering and Technology, P.O. Box 12676, Asmara, Eritrea
Erik Möllerström: The Rydberg Laboratory for Applied Sciences, Halmstad University, P.O. Box 823, SE-301 18 Halmstad, Sweden
Fredric Ottermo: The Rydberg Laboratory for Applied Sciences, Halmstad University, P.O. Box 823, SE-301 18 Halmstad, Sweden

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-12

Abstract: This paper presents the wind energy potential and wind characteristics for 25 wind sites in Eritrea, based on wind data from the years 2000–2005. The studied sites are distributed all over Eritrea, but can roughly be divided into three regions: coastal region, western lowlands, and central highlands. The coastal region sites have the highest potential for wind power. An uncertainty, due to extrapolating the wind speed from the 10-m measurements, should be noted. The year to year variations are typically small and, for the sites deemed as suitable for wind power, the seasonal variations are most prominent in the coastal region with a peak during the period November–March. Moreover, Weibull parameters, prevailing wind direction, and wind power density recalculated for 100 m above ground are presented for all 25 sites. Comparing the results to values from the web-based, large-scale dataset, the Global Wind Atlas (GWA), both mean wind speed and wind power density are typically higher for the measurements. The difference is especially large for the more complex-terrain central highland sites where GWA results are also likely to be more uncertain. The result of this study can be used to make preliminary assessments on possible power production potential at the given sites.

Keywords: wind power; wind energy; Eritrea; global wind atlas; renewable energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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