World Journal of Engineering Research and Technology

Nyasani Erick Isaboke*, Mathew Munji Mukuru Ssessazi Alfred Muhorakeye Lenatha, Douglas Nyabuga

ABSTRACT

As a developing nation, Kenya urgently needs new sources of affordable and clean energy to meet its growing energy demand. Among them is wind energy, which is potentially attractive because of its low environmental impact and sustainability. This work investigated the wind power production potential of Kisumu city in Kenya. Wind speed data over a 10-year period (2002-2012) measured at a height of 10 m from Kisumu meteorological station is presented. Frequency distributions of wind speeds and wind power densities, seasonal variations of wind speed, and estimates of power likely to be produced by small turbines are included. To assess the wind power potentials, the Weibull parameters were calculated by different methods in the analysis of wind speed data in order to establish a better method for estimation. The wind speed distributions were represented by Weibull distribution. The yearly values of k (dimensionless weibull shape parameter) and the average annual Weibull distributions for the two towns calculated were used to predict the type of wind turbines suitable in the two regions under study. The data was analyzed by use of Weibull distribution model with the help of computer software microCal origin (version7). The results revealed that the annual mean wind speed at a height of 10 m for Kisumu was 2.38m/s, with the annual mean power density being 127.99 W/m2. The annual mean wind energy density was 93.25kWh/year. It was further shown that the mean annual value of the most probable wind speed was 2.45m/s, while the annual value of the wind speed carrying maximum energy is 2.85m/s. The yearly value of k (dimensionless weibull shape parameter) was 4.51 while the yearly value for c (Weibull scale parameter) was 2.61m/s. It was concluded that Kisumu has marginal potential based on the wind speeds measured at a hub height of 10m. However with new turbine technology and based on the vertical wind profile it was established that Kisumu has a potential for wind energy applications at higher heights between 50 m and 100 m.

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