Potential Measurement and Estimation of Wind Power Characteristics for Energy Generation (Synoptic Stations of Mazandaran Province)

Recently, Mazandaran Province has needed more energy. Considering the capabilities of this province in generating renewable energy, recognizing the potentials of clean energy generation and consumption, especially wind energy, should be a priority in the plans of managers and researchers. Current study has been done with the aim of spatial capability of wind energy in Mazandaran Province with emphasis on its topography. In order to initially estimate the energy that can be obtained from wind flow in the province, the necessary calculations were performed on wind direction and velocity data over a period of 12 years. Statistic data of 15 synoptic meteorological stations in the province at a height of 10 meters were used to collect daily wind speed and direction data. After calculating the average wind speed, wind speed continuity and wind power density in the meteorological stations, layers of each were prepared at heights of 10, 30 and 50 m using interpolation in ArcGIS software environment. The 50-meter-high wind speed zoning map in Mazandaran Province shows that among the study stations, Baladeh station with an average monthly wind speed of 5.98 meters per second at a height of 50 meters, has a maximum wind speed of 7.78 meters per second in July. This station experiences wind speeds of more than 6 meters per second for about 7 months of the year (April to October), especially during the warmer months of the year. This station also has the highest wind power density (WPD) with 51, 142 and 228 watts per square meter respectively at a height of 10, 30 and 50 meters above the ground. Also, the station has the highest amount of electrical energy output in Mazandaran Province with an average annual wind power of 58.4 kW, amount of electricity generated annually about 511452 kWh per year and network capacity of 17.7%. Therefore, this area is a suitable place in Mazandaran province for installing wind turbines and constructing wind power plant to generate electricity.