Performance evaluation of wind turbines for energy production in Morocco’s coastal regions

This study investigates the wind energy potential in Morocco’s coastal regions, the analysis utilizes wind speed data based on hourly wind speed and wind directions range over period 2015–2018. The Weibull probability function is widely used for prediction wind energy potential, in this method, the shape and scale parameters are calculated using following methods: Maximum likelihood (ML), modified maximum likelihood (MML), energy pattern factor (EPF) and WAsP method. The monthly and yearly power and energy densities at various hub heights are estimated using extrapolated Weibull parameters. Different statistical tests are used to determine the most appropriate method in adjusting Weibull parameters. Moreover, a new expression of shape and scale Weibull parameters based on linear and polynomial regressions is introduced in order to calculate these parameters for different wind speed and at various hub heights. Five wind turbines with rated power varied from 100 ​kW to 1000 ​kW are examined for evaluation the performance of wind energy in each location site, the most suitable model of wind turbine was selected based on the output energy and high values of annual capacity factor, which the most parameter for analyzing wind turbine performance, it has a direct effect on the cost of generated electricity. The higher values of wind speed are observed during winter in northern regions and wind speed can reach up to 8,5 ​m/s in February, and during summer in southern regions and wind speed reach up to 10 ​m/s in July at height 50 ​m. Moreover, in the regions of Boujdour and Essaouira, the highest values of power density are recorded on July at the height of 50 ​m with 642.981 ​W/m2 and 634.699 ​W/m2 respectively. While, in Tantan region, the lowest monthly power densities recorded on October with 132.563 ​W/m2 at the height 50 ​m