Assessment of wind power plants with limited wind resources in developing countries: Application to Ko Yai in southern Thailand

This paper presents a methodology to assess the technical, economic, environmental and social benefits of a wind power plant, with a particular emphasis for developing countries. The technical assessment ranges from the assessment of the wind resource over the territory considered, to the type of large utility-scale wind turbines available on the market. The economic analysis is based on the estimated annual energy production of the optimum wind turbine configuration for the site considered, along with various incentive schemes, notably in the form of financial and fiscal incentives, and revenues from the exchange of displaced carbon emissions. Finally, the environmental impacts of the wind power plant are assessed in regards to noise emissions, zones of visual influence and shadow flickering, along with the social acceptance of the project. The methodology is applied to a 20 MW wind power plant in Ko Yai, Songkhla Province in southern Thailand. The site considered is characterized by a relatively low wind resource (annual average wind speed of 5.2 m/s at 100 m above ground level). Using the optimum wind turbine available, the results for Ko Yai show that a 20 MW wind power plant could produce 33 GW h/year of electricity, corresponding to a 21% capacity factor. The levelized cost of energy is estimated at 8.7 US cents/kW h. Based strictly on the financial factor, the proposed 20 MW wind power plant is not viable under the current financial incentives of the electricity authority of Thailand (Provincial Electricity Authority, PEA). However, when analyzed in the context of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental aspects), the project offers promising benefits, notably regarding job creation and the development of a green tourism industry, while reducing the impact of the electricity sector on the environment.