Estimation of Electricity Generation in Libya Using Processing Technology of Wind Available Data: The Case study in Derna

This paper is concerned with the processing technology of wind available data as a means to estimate the electricity generation in Derna site - Libya, which are located on the coast of Mediterranean Sea. The work presented long term wind data analysis in terms of annual, seasonal and diurnal variations at these sites. The wind speed and wind direction each 3 hours data for a period of 10 years between 2000 and 2009 were used in the analysis. Weibull parameters at different heights has been studied and used to describe the distribution and behavior of wind speed and their frequencies. Wind turbine energy production at different heights has been calculated using a Weibull distribution (Weibull Statistics Techniques). The total energy output per year from the wind machines of different sizes and at different hub heights were compared. This research work revealed that the lower rated speed for the wind energy conversion system (WECS) of the same height, the higher the capacity factor values, in most cases. This work used also a new analytical method of (Spena & Ahwide's method) for the estimation of the available wind energy potential. The results of both previous mentioned method's were compared. Moreover, the expected cost in $ Dollar/kWh for both wind machines have been calculated, which have different characteristics but the same power level of 1650 kW. It was hoped that the data analysis can help to identify good sites in Libya for new wind turbine installations. This evaluation was helpful to trigger the use of large wind turbines at the selected sites along the coasts of Mediterranean.