Abstract: This study examines the potential of wind energy generation in the Sudano- Sahelian Zone of Nigeria under different rotor diameters. Data on wind speed, were obtained for 40 years (1973- 2012) from the records of Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Oshodi, Lagos. Mathematical Model was used to compute wind energy potential at 45m, 90m and 126m rotor diameters. The study revealed that about 89% of annual wind speed was found to be above the threshold of 3.0m/s for wind turbine operations. Wind energy potential in the area is high, varying from 704kW in Yelwa to 3,659kW in Kano, at a turbine rotor diameter of 126m. This could generate 512,260kW of electricity with two wind farms of 70 wind turbines each. The study concluded that the Sudano-Sahelian Zone has enormous potential for wind energy generation. It is therefore, recommended that the advantage of wind resources be explored by government through private public partnership initiative to complement existing sources of power generation for rapid socio-economic development in Nigeria.
Keywords: wind energy, rotor diameters, mathematical model, wind speed, wind turbine, energy potential, wind farm.
Title: Analysis of the Potential of Wind Energy Generation at Different Rotor Diameters in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone of Nigeria
Author: I.P. Ifabiyi, K.R. Ajao, A. Adeniyi
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
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