Assessment of wind energy potential across varying topographical features of Tamil Nadu, India

Wind energy is one of the abundant, cheap and fast-growing renewable energy sources whose intensive extraction potential is still in immature stage in India. This study aims at the determination and evaluation of wind energy potential of three cities located at different elevations in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The historical records of wind speed, direction, temperature and pressure were collected for three South Indian cities, namely Chennai, Erode and Coimbatore over a period of 38 years (1980-2017). The mean wind power density was observed to be highest at Chennai (129 W/m²) and lowest at Erode (76 W/m²) and the corresponding mean energy content was highest for Chennai (1129 kWh/m²/year) and lowest at Erode (666 kWh/m²/year). Considering the events of high energy-carrying winds at Chennai, Erode and Coimbatore, maximum wind power density were estimated to be 185 W/m², 190 W/m² and 234 W/m², respectively. The annual average net energy yield and annual average net capacity factor were selected as the representative parameters for expressing strategic wind energy potential at geographically distinct locations having significant variation in wind speed distribution. Based on the analysis, Chennai is found to be the most suitable site for wind energy production followed by Coimbatore and Erode.