Clean Energy Transition in Insular Communities: Wind Resource Evaluation and VAWT Design Using CFD and Statistics

Jonathan Fábregas-Villegas (), Luis Manuel Palacios-Pineda, Alfredo Miguel Abuchar-Curi and Argemiro Palencia-Díaz ()
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Jonathan Fábregas-Villegas: Faculty of Engineering, Universidad Autonóma del Caribe, Barranquilla 080020, Colombia
Luis Manuel Palacios-Pineda: Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Pachuca, Pachuca 42080, Mexico
Alfredo Miguel Abuchar-Curi: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de Bolivar, Cartagena 130001, Colombia
Argemiro Palencia-Díaz: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de Bolivar, Cartagena 130001, Colombia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-27

Abstract: Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) are efficient solutions for renewable energy generation, especially in regions with variable wind conditions. This study presents an optimized design of a small-scale H-type VAWT through the integration of Design of Experiments (DOE) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), using a fractional factorial 2 k−p approach to evaluate the influence of geometric and operational parameters on power output and power coefficient (Cp), which ranged from 0.15 to 0.35. The research began with a comprehensive assessment of renewable resources in Isla Fuerte, Colombia. Solar analysis revealed an average of 5.13 Peak Sun Hours (PSHs), supporting the existing 175 kWp photovoltaic system. Wind modeling, based on meteorological data and Weibull distribution, showed speeds between 2.79 m/s and 5.36 m/s, predominantly from northeast to northwest. Under these conditions, the NACA S1046 airfoil was selected for its aerodynamic suitability. The turbine achieved power outputs from 0.46 W to 37.59 W, with stabilization times analyzed to assess dynamic performance. This initiative promotes environmental sustainability by reducing reliance on Diesel Generators (DGs) and empowering local communities through participatory design and technical training. The DOE-CFD methodology offers a replicable model for energy transition in insular regions of developing countries, linking technical innovation with social development and education.

Keywords: computational fluid dynamics; design of experiments; island region; power coefficient; renewable energies; wind analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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