energyequipsys/ Vol 4/No2/Dec 2016/ 81-94 Energy Equipment and Systems http://energyequipsys.ut.ac.ir www.energyeuquipsys.com Wind resource assessment of Khuzestan province in Iran Authors ABSTRACT a* Pedram Hanafizadeh In this research paper, a 10 minute period measured wind speed a Amirmohammad Sattari data at 10 m, 30 m, and 40 m heights are presented for one of the a Seyed Erfan Hosseinidoost major provinces of Iran. Four stations in Khuzestan- Abadan, a Ashkan Irannezhad Hosseyneh, Mahshahr, and Shushtar- are analyzed to determine Pouria Ahmadi b the potential of wind power generation in this province. From the primary evaluation and by determining mean wind speed and a Center of Excellence in Design and also the Weibull function, the results show that the measurement Optimization of Energy Systems, School site falls under class 2 of the International System Wind of Mechanical Engineering, College of Classification for Abadan, Hosseyneh, and Mahshahr and class 1 Engineering, University of Tehran, for Shushtar station. It means that the first three stations have Tehran, Iran, P. O. Box: 11155-4563 mediocre conditions for installing and operating wind farms, but b Fuel Cell Research Lab (FCReL), Shushtar does not have a significant condition for connection to Mechatronic System Engineering, Simon national power grid applications. By using wind roses of speed, Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada turbulence, and the power distribution, the best direction of installing wind turbines for each station was determined. Finally, by utilizing power curves of five typical wind turbines, the annual Article history: wind energy, which is produced by a typical wind turbine for one Received : 03 April 2015 of four stations, Mahshahr, was determined for showing the Accepted : 2 November 2015 appropriate annual energy received from a wind turbine. Keywords: Weibull function, Wind Energy, Wind roses, Wind speed, Wind turbine. 1. Introduction 1.1.Wind power energy drive train atop a tall tower. Large wind turbines can have a blade length of over 60 Wind energy is considered a renewable meters and be placed on towers 120 meters energy source. It is the conversion of wind tall. Smaller turbines can be used to provide energy into a useful form of energy. power for individual homes. Wind farms are Historically, wind power in the form of areas where a number of wind turbines are windmills has been used for centuries for such grouped together, providing a larger total tasks as grinding grain and pumping water. energy source [1]. Modern wind turbines benefit from wind As of 2014, the largest onshore wind farm speed to produce electricity by using in the world was the Alta Wind Energy rotational energy to drive a generator. They Center in California, which produces 1,320 are made up of a blade or rotor and an MW [2]. By the early 21st century, wind was enclosure called a nacelle that contains a contributing slightly more than 1 percent of the word’s total electricity, and electricity *Corresponding author: Pedram Hanafizadeh generation by wind has been dramatically Address: Center of Excellence in Design and Optimization of Energy Systems, School of Mechanical increasing because of concerns over the cost Engineering, College of Engineering, University of of petroleum and the effects of fossil fuel Tehran, Tehran, Iran, P. O. Box: 11155-4563 combustion on the climates and environment. E-mail address: [email protected] From 2004 to 2014, for example, total wind 82 Pedram Hanafizadeh et al./energyequipsys / Vol 4/No2/Dec 2016 power increased from 47.6 GW to 365.4 GW et al. evaluated the potential of wind energy in worldwide. By 2014, China has the most Semnan province and, finally, Damghan was installed wind capacity worldwide by determined as the best place to install wind generating 114,763 MW which is about 31% power plants [9]. In another research by of all installed wind capacity in the world. Mirhosseini et al., the potential of wind The wind power industry estimates that the energy in the South and North Khorasan world could feasibly generate 12 percent of its provinces was evaluated and, finally, these total electricity from wind power by 2020. provinces were determined as suitable areas to Various estimates put the cost of wind energy install wind power plants [10]. Also, in further between 3 and 12 cent per kilowatt-hour, research, Alamdari et al evaluated the depending on the location. This is comparable potential of wind energy in Ardebil and this to the cost of fossil energy (the cost of coal- province was determined as a suitable area to generated electricity is estimated at 4-8 cents install wind power plants [11], and also per kilowatt-hour) [3]. Mostafaipoor et al. evaluated the potential of In the past decades, in many countries, wind energy in Shahrebabak and, finally, it many studies have been conducted about was not recommended to install wind power available wind energy resources. Some of plants, but it was suggested for utilization for these studies have been developed to form a out-grid applications [12]. wind energy resource atlas, such as Wind Energy Resource Atlas of the United States 1.2.Wind energy in Iran [4], Europe’s Energy Portal [5], etc. In addition, a wind map of China, Spain, Peru, Here is a graph which explains the situation of Egypt, Jordan, Somalia, Ethiopia, and also a wind power In Iran. In Fig.1, the capacity of wind power in Iran from 1997 to 2013 is wind map of the world have been published shown. This graph shows that the capacity of [6]. wind power from 1997 to 2003 is almost Iran is one of the major countries in the constant. The growth of the wind power Middle East and one of the main oil exporters capacity starts from 2004. In 2013 the to the west. As the conventional fuels are capacity of wind power has a 6.3% growth depleting, the need to switch to renewable compared to 2012 and is about 100 MW [13]. energy has attracted substantial interest. In Status of Iran’s geographical shows that Iran, in the field of wind energy, much work low air pressures produces strong air flows has been carried out so far, such as creating over the country, generally during the summer Iran wind energy resources atlas by and winter seasons compared to high Renewable Energy Organization of Iran pressures in the northern areas. (SUNA) [7]. Also, wind energy potential of The potential of wind energy in Iran is Manjil was investigated by Mostafaipoor and estimated to be at about 6500 MW. Actually, Abarghooi and this area was designated as by this potential, Iran is classified into one of the most suitable areas for wind power medium level energy between different plants [8]. In another research, Mirhosseini countries [7]. 120 100 80 60 Capacity (MW) Capacity 40 20 0 Year Fig. 1. Growth of wind energy in Iran Pedram Hanafizadeh et al./energyequipsys / Vol 4/No2/Dec 2016 83 Iran’s first experiment in installing and south of Ahvaz. Khuzestan province is known handling modern wind turbines dates back to to possess one of the hottest temperatures on 1994, when two sets of wind turbines were record for a populated region in the world. installed in Manjil and Rudbar. These sites Many sandstorms are frequent with the arid produced more than 1.8 million kWh per year. and desert-style terrains. Manjil and Roodbar wind farm is a wind farm In this research paper, the feasibility of located in Gilan province, this is one of the using different stations of Khuzestan province provinces of Iran in the north of the country is studied. These stations are Abadan, located beside the Caspian sea. This wind Hosseyneh, Mahshahr, and Shushtar. Among farm by 2009 used 171 NEG Micon and the cities surveyed, Abadan with a population Vestas turbines with capacities ranging from of 212,744 (covering an area of 2,063 hectare) 300 to 660 kW [14]. is the most populous and Mahshahr, Shushtar Wind power in Iran has been experiencing a and the district of Hosseyneh, are followed growth in wind generation in recent years, and with populations of 153,778 (covering an area has a plan to substantially increase wind of 2,063 hectare), 106,815 (covering an area generation each year. Iran is the sole center in of 2436 hectare) and 1,935, respectively. The producing wind turbines in the Middle East locations of meteorological sites for all [15]. studied regions are summarized in Table 1. 1.3.Khuzestan 2.Analysis of wind data Khuzestan is the 7th largest province of Iran Data was prepared over a period of about two with an area of 62,328 km2. It is in the years. The period of usage data is different for southwest of the country, bordering Iraq’s each station. For Abadan, data was collected Basra province and the Persian Gulf. Its from 09/27/2007 to 08/19/2009, for capital is Ahvaz that is the heart of the oil Hosseyneh, the duration was from 11/28/2007 production in Iran and has a significant role in to 08/11/2009. For another station, Mahshahr, the Iran’s economy. Other major cities include it was from 09/27/2007 to 08/28/2009. And, Behbahan, Abadan, Andimeshk, finally, for Shushtar station, data was Khorramshahr, Bandar Imam, Dezful, prepared from 11/30/2007 to 08/11/2009. Shushtar, Omidiyeh, Izeh, Mahshahr, Susangerd, Ramhormoz, Shadegan, Masjed soleiman, Minoo Island, and Hoveizeh. The province of Khuzestan can be basically divided into two regions, the rolling hills and mountainous region to the north of Ahvaz ridge, and the plains and marsh lands to its south.