A Heuristic Approach to Siting and Design Optimization of an Onshore Wind Farm Layout

Shafiqur Rehman, Abdul Baseer Mohammed and Luai Alhems
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Shafiqur Rehman: Center for Engineering Research, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Abdul Baseer Mohammed: Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Jubail Industrial College, Jubail 31961, Saudi Arabia
Luai Alhems: Center for Engineering Research, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 22, 1-18

Abstract: The forecasted electricity demand in Saudi Arabia may be around 120 GW/year by 2032. As per the latest government announcement, Saudi Arabia is aiming to install 57.5 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. In this study, firstly, a wind map is developed based on the historical wind data, recorded over a 39-year period, followed by the development of the geographic information system (GIS)-based multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model for suitable wind farm site selection for Hijaz, the western region of Saudi Arabia. This region is selected as it has a population density of around 25 per sq. km, the highest in Saudi Arabia. For the model, data from various ecological, environmental, and socioeconomic criteria are considered. Finally, the optimization of the wind farm layout on the identified suitable region of 5.5 km × 4 km is performed using the deep-array wake model, DAWM. The optimized layout has locations for 30 wind turbines of 3 MW rated capacity. This optimization process minimizes energy losses and costs and maximizes power production. The net and gross energy production from the wind farm are expected to be 143 GWh and 156 GWh, respectively, with an array loss of 8.25% at a cost of energy of USD 65.66 per MWh, and a capacity factor of 17.7%. The cost calculations include the capital cost of constructing the access roads and a complete collector system with two substations. The optimized turbine positions in the layout have a major and minor axis separation of 1680 m and 448 m, respectively.

Keywords: cost of energy; design optimization of wind farm layout; GIS; site suitability analysis; wake effect; wind power (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 (3)

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