Assessment of Wind Energy Potential in Western Mountain: Nalut and Yefren as Case Study

Abstract

An estimation of wind potential is considered as the first essential step in transition toward renewable and environmental friendly energy. It is therefore necessary to have detailed knowledge of the wind to select the suitable wind turbine for a certain site and also estimate its performance accurately. It believes that wind energy can compensate the shortage in power supply, in additional to mitigate the carbon footprint. The present research seeks to achieve decentralization and decarburization as they are one of the sustainability substrates, by means of examine the capability of each location and highlighting the futures. The findings of the present research reveal that it is worth to investigating in wind energy in the Western Mountain cities such as Nalut and Yefren as the LCOE are 4.3 and 4.5 ¢/kWh, respectively, when using Suzlon (3.3 MW) wind turbine, which is much less than the price of purchasing electricity by the Libyan General Electrical Company and estimated at 10 ¢/kWh. In addition, preventing about 3.3 ton CO2/kWp of wind energy of emission in the atmosphere.