Contribution to improving the modeling of wind and evaluation of the wind potential of the site of Lome: Problems of taking into account the frequency of calm winds

The purpose of this paper is to determine for the site of Lome, the best model that fits the frequency histogram of wind speeds to estimate with precision the amounts of recoverable wind energy. Our study was to characterize the wind potential of Lome using the approach of Hybrid Weibull distribution because of calm winds observed in the series of wind measurements of the site. To do this, two other traditional approaches often used to model the winds have been applied to this same site to better assess the results of applying the method of Hybrid Weibull. To this end, we first determined the statistical characteristics of measurements on the site and the methods used to model wind and evaluate the wind potential. We then proceeded to apply these methods to the site data, and finally an analysis of the results to confirm the validity of using the approach of hybrid Weibull distribution was made.

► If the frequencies of calm are relatively large, Weibull distribution is unsuitable.
► In this case, the Hybrid Weibull distribution function is the best solution.
► The frequency of calm winds in the wind data on the site of Lome is very important.
► The Hybrid Weibull distribution is used to characterize the wind potential of Lome.
► Hybrid Weibull model best fits the distribution of wind speeds on the site of Lome.