Speaker
Description
South Africa has an estimated 3.5–4 GW generated in 2025 with a projection of over 69 GW by 2050 [1]. More sites are needed in order to reach the target set of energy generated only through wind. Weather data of six months (January- June) was analyzed. Weather data of Port Edward (Longitude: 31.0670; Latitude: 30.2330), in the eastern coastline of South Africa, was provided by the South African Weather Services (SAWA). Data was collected at 11 m height every minute and averaged hourly. This data shows the maximum and minimum reading per day. The data collected included hourly winds speeds, pressure, temperature and wind direction. All these parameters were measured using a weather buoys than transmitted through satellite communication to the meteorological stations. From the data the wind characteristics were calculated using the mean standard deviation method, the Weibull parameters were calculated using the mean square deviation method, the distribution functions were calculated using the Weibull two parameter probability method and the air density was calculated using the Ideal gas law whilst the wind power density was calculated using the Weibull Rayleigh method for the available wind power estimations. The standard deviation giving an idea to how off were some wind-speeds compared to the average wind speed calculated, this helped to determine the wind characteristics of the site. The Weibull shape parameter gave an idea as to the peak of the wind distribution of the site, whilst the Weibull shape parameter indicated how windy the site was. The Weibull Distribution densities analyzed gave an indication of the fraction of time for observing certain wind speeds and illustrates the fraction of time at which wind speeds are below or equivalent to the desired wind speed. Finally, wind power density illustrated the available energy from the wind of the site.
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