Wind Power Sites to Boost Renewable Energy in Bangladesh

In a recent article published in the journal Energy reportsBangladesh researchers conducted a comprehensive assessment of the country’s wind energy potential. Bangladesh faces energy challenges like many developing countries, fueled by population growth and economic expansion. The authors set themselves the goal of identifying and analyzing potential locations for wind farms and finding effective methods for site characterization.

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Background

Wind energy is a widely used clean and renewable energy source known for its low operating costs, zero emissions and long service life. It can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the growing demand for electricity. Renewable energy has become increasingly important in the face of global challenges of energy shortages and climate change.

Wind turbines capture wind energy and convert it into electricity, making them a cost-effective solution for electricity generation in industrialized and developing countries.

However, the efficiency and effectiveness of wind turbines depend on wind speed, direction, variability, topography and climate. Therefore, assessing the potential and characteristics of wind resources in a region is crucial before deploying wind turbines.

About the study

In this paper, the authors analyzed wind speed data from 2000 to 2020 collected by the Asia-Pacific Data Research Center (APDRC) to assess potential wind farm locations in Bangladesh.

They identified and characterized these sites using a variety of techniques, including spatial distribution mapping, compass rose diagrams for directional analysis, extreme value analysis for survivability, and statistical and machine learning models for forecasting wind patterns. They also assessed the environmental, social, and economic impacts of wind energy deployment in Bangladesh.

Findings

The study identified five potential wind power sites in Bangladesh: Bagerhat, Bandarban, Bogra, Kishoreganj and Munshiganj. These sites were selected based on high and consistent wind speeds, low risk of disasters, proximity to transmission lines, accessibility and minimal environmental and social impact.

The results showed that the average wind speed at these sites was in the range of 3 to 5 m/s, which is suitable for wind energy generation. There were also significant seasonal and site-specific variations in wind direction and frequency that affected the optimal orientation and design of wind turbines.

The authors used two extreme value distribution models to estimate extreme wind speeds: the generalized extreme value distribution (GEVD) and the generalized Pareto distribution (GPD). These models helped to simulate extreme events such as gusts and storms, which are crucial for assessing the survivability of wind turbines. The results indicated that the extreme wind speeds at the selected locations ranged from 6 to 14 m/s, which is within the operational limits of most wind turbines.

The researchers used several models to forecast future wind speeds, including autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), exponential smoothing, neural hierarchical interpolation for time series forecasting (N-HiTS), and Facebook Prophet. These models, based on statistical, machine learning, and hybrid approaches, aimed to capture wind speed patterns in time and space.

The performance of these models was evaluated using the root mean square error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination (R²). The results showed that the exponential smoothing model performed the best, followed by the N-HiTS model, in predicting the wind speed at the selected locations.

Apps

The study offers valuable insights and recommendations for wind energy deployment in Bangladesh. It suggests that wind energy can be an excellent option to meet the country’s energy needs, especially in rural and remote areas where grid connections are difficult or expensive.

The authors also recommended integrating wind power with other renewable sources, such as solar and hydropower, to create hybrid systems that provide reliable and stable energy. They also highlighted the potential environmental, social and economic benefits of wind power for Bangladesh, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, creating jobs and increasing energy security.

Application

The paper concludes that wind power can be a promising and cost-effective option for electricity generation in Bangladesh, especially in identified locations with favourable wind conditions and other advantages.

Going forward, the researchers recommended conducting more detailed, site-specific assessments of wind resources, investigating optimal turbine design and configuration, and assessing the economic feasibility and social acceptability of wind power projects. Overall, they provided valuable insights and guidance for the future implementation of wind power in the country.

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