Wind energy potential of Vesleskarvet and the feasibility of meeting the South African׳s SANAE IV energy demand

In this paper, the wind energy potential of Vesleskarvet in Antarctica is assessed and the possibility of meeting the energy needs of South African׳s SANAE IV located in Vesleskarvet using the wind resource of the site is presented. The data used for the study consists of daily average wind speed, temperature and atmospheric pressure collected over a period of eleven years (2001-2012) at an anemometer height of 10 m. The data is obtained from South African Weather Services and the analysis is performed using statistical approach. Some commercially available wind turbine ranging from 10 kW to 1650 kW are simulated using HOMER simulation software in different scenario to determine the combination of wind turbine, battery and power electronic converter that could meet the electrical energy demand of SANAE IV with lowest Net Present Cost (NPC) and the Cost of Energy (COE) over 25 year life cycle of the project. The results show that Vesleskarvet has exceptional wind resource with average wind speed of 10.9 m/s and standard deviation of 6.3 m/s. The minimum wind speed in the period under study is 0 m/s and maximum value of 41.9 m/s. The average wind potential density (2001-2001) is 1650 W/m2. The HOMER optimization result reveals that 15 numbers of PGE20/25 wind turbine with rated power of 25 kW, hub height of 25 m, cut in wind speed of 3.5 m/s, rated wind speed of 9 m/s and cut-out wind speed of 25 m/s seems suitable to meet the electrical energy demand of SANAE IV with NPC of $1,336,262, operating cost of $976,500 and COE of $0.102.