Small wind turbines: a simulation for optimal selection in Uasin-Gishu, Kenya.

Abstract

Six years (2004-2009) of wind speed data from the Eldoret Meteorological Station (0.53oN, 35.28oE) have been analyzed for wind energy estimation. Extrapolation of the 2 m height data using the power law has been used to simulate the wind speeds and wind powers for heights of 10 m, 20 m, 30 m, and 40 m. Estimated wind power densities at different hub heights range between 70 W/m2 to 107.534 W/m2 at 40 m height. The energy output for different commercially available small wind turbines from different manufacturers was simulated to generate their performance power curves for the different heights. The simulations reveal existence of varied energy productions for the different wind turbines. The WINDWORKER- 300H/WM-300 horizontal axis wind turbine with rated wind speed of 7 m/s and rated wind power of 300 W can be considered for small scale production of wind power. The generated power can be directly linked to household appliances and for basic domestic applications.