Wind power resources assessment at 10 different locations using wind measurements at five heights

Globally, people from all walks of life are working towards a sustainable globe and the availability of energy to all human beings using clean, self-renewed, freely available, and distributive sources. Present study utilizes wind speed data measured at 40, 60, 80, 98, and 100 m above ground level and other meteorological parameters near ground level to analyze the wind characteristics, energy yield, cost of energy, and greenhouse gasses reduction at chosen locations. The data analysis showed an increasing trend of wind shear exponent with longitude and a decreasing trend of ambient temperature with latitude. The analysis recommends Yanbu North, Hafar Al-Batin, Sharourah, and Turaif sites with annual energy delivered to the grid of 213.5, 179.4, 167.1, and 166.7 GWh from a wind farm of 49.5 MW installed capacity as the first, second, third, and fourth choice for wind power deployment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. On an average, 28.45 thousand tons CO₂ equivalent greenhouse gasses can be avoided from entering into the local atmosphere at each site with a maximum of 41.1 thousand tons at Yanbu North site alone.