Wind power potential at Benau, Savusavu, Vanua Levu, Fiji

Kumar, Ajal and Nair, Krishnam (2013) Wind power potential at Benau, Savusavu, Vanua Levu, Fiji. International Journal of Energy, Information and Communications, 4 (1). pp. 51-62. ISSN 2093-9655

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Abstract

Benau, Savusavu is located at 16.8°S and 179.6°E in the Fiji Islands Group. Benau, a rural settlement, has no grid connected electricity supply. It costs approximately USD 1.50/ℓ to generate electricity using a diesel generator. Wind resource assessment was carried out to determine the wind power potential at Benau. The wind assessment is based on 3 years wind speed and direction data provided by Fiji Department of Energy. The Wind energy potential was analyzed using Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program (WAsP). It showed that Benau had a mean wind speed of 6.24 m/s and mean power density of 590 W/m2 at 30 m above sea level. Hence, it is a reasonable candidate site for a wind farm. WAsP verified that a wind farm with 2 turbines would have a mean annual energy production (AEP) of 641 MWh. An economic analysis for a prospective wind power generation was carried out using Vesta V27 and Vergnet (GeV) 275 kW wind turbines. The economical analysis showed that Vergnet 275 kW wind turbine has the maximum annual energy production (AEP) for the integrated wind farm. The levelised cost of energy was $0.08/kWh with a cost to benefit ratio of 1.38 and internal rate of return (IRR) of 21.3%.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	energy potential, WAsP, power density, resource grid, Vesta V27, Vergnet 275, AEP
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General) T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) T Technology > TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering
Divisions:	College of Foundation Studies Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > School of Engineering and Physics
Depositing User:	Users 24 not found.
Date Deposited:	01 May 2013 23:50
Last Modified:	21 Jun 2016 00:33
URI:	https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/5795

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