WIND SPEED CHARACTERISTICS AND RESOURCE ASSESSMENT USING WEIBULL PARAMETERS

The study utilized wind speed measurements made at three heights and the Weibull parameters to study the wind speed characteristics and assess the wind power potential of seven sites in Saudi Arabia. Weibull shape and scale parameters were estimated using maximum likelihood method. These parameters were found to fit the actual wind frequency distributions with acceptable coefficient of determination (>0.95) for all the sites considered in this study. The annual mean wind speed varied between 4.30 m/s and 5.9 m/s at 40 m above ground level corresponding to Gassim and Dhulom data collection stations. The local wind shear exponent calculated using measured wind speed values at 20, 30, and 40 m and the power law were established for future use and were found to vary from 0.06 to 0.34 corresponding to Gassim and Yanbo, respectively. The Weibull shape and scale parameters increased more at 30 m compared to at 40 m with increase in height from 20 to 30 m and 30 to 40 m. No regular monthly trends could be detected whereas monthly mean wind speed, shape, and scale parameters, most probable wind speed, and maximum energy carrying wind speed was concerned. The most windy sites (Dhulom, Arar, Juaymah, Rawdat Ben-Habbas, and Dhahran) were suggested for wind power development in Saudi Arabia.