Assessing the Complementarity of Wind and Solar Energy in Kentucky

Abbas Shah Syed (), Aron Patrick, Adrian Lauf () and Adel Elmaghraby
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Abbas Shah Syed: Department of Electronic Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro 71000, Pakistan
Aron Patrick: PPL Corporation, Allentown, PA 18101, USA
Adrian Lauf: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40208, USA
Adel Elmaghraby: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40208, USA

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-15

Abstract: Recently, there has been a push by countries to diversify their energy mix considering various factors. In this regard, there have been several studies conducted to assess the potential for using sources such as wind and solar to generate supplemental energy to the already present energy generation setup. In this regard, this study explores the potential of wind for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. To perform this study, wind data were sourced for eight locations across Kentucky from the publicly accessible wind speed information present at Weather Underground for the years 2020–2021 (two years). An analysis was performed concerning the seasonal, monthly, and hourly variation in the wind speed so as to identify the expected times of sufficient wind energy generation. Moreover, a comparison of the collected data was performed with data from a home-based weather station as well as a deployed wind turbine to validate the variation pattern of the publicly sourced data. Finally, in order to investigate the variation patterns of wind and solar energy sources, a comparative analysis was also performed using data from a solar power generation plant in Kentucky. A seasonal and monthly complementarity was observed between the wind and solar energy. However, when considering daily patterns, the wind was found to follow solar generation with an offset. While further research is required, this analysis indicates that it is possible to deploy wind energy power generation projects in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The seasonal complementary behavior of wind and solar energy can be used along with battery storage in conjunction with natural gas to provide a diversified electricity generation portfolio.

Keywords: solar energy; wind energy; wind power generation; solar and wind; solar wind complementarity (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: 2024
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