4 Renewable energy resources in Oman
4.1 Wind energy
4.1.1 Wind data
The assessment of the wind energy resources is based on the wind data measured at twenty one stations in Oman under the responsibility of DGCAM. The wind data is measured at 10 m above ground level. The details of the stations including their locations are included in Appendix 3.
Five stations with the highest wind speeds (in 2005) were identified based on the data from Ref /7/. For these stations the hourly wind speed data for 2006 was re-ceived from DGCAM. The annual mean wind speed in 2005 and in 2006 was almost identical.
The wind conditions at 80 m above ground level were estimated which is equal is to the hub height of a modern large wind turbine, having a capacity in the order of 2-3 MW. The calculation is based on the hourly wind speed data for 2006 re-ceived from DGCAM.
The high wind speeds are found along the coast from Masirah to Salalah. The highest wind speeds are in the Dhofar Mountain Chain north of Salalah. The low wind speed areas are in the north and western part of Oman.
The measured annual mean wind speed at 10 m and the estimated annual mean wind speed at 80 m above ground level at each of the five selected met station is shown in Fig. 4.1. Details on the calculation of the monthly mean wind speed and the wind rose at each of the five selected stations are included in Appendix 3.
Fig. 4.1 Annual mean wind speed at 10 m and at 80 m above ground level at five meteorological stations.
The highest wind energy speeds are observed during the summer period. The summer period is also the period with the highest electricity demand in Oman.
The monthly wind speed variation at each of the five stations is included in Ap-pendix 3.
Qairoon Hariti Thumrait Masirah Joba Sur
Annual mean wind speed, m/s
Location
10 m agl 80 m agl
The wind monitoring masts at Thumrait and Qairoon Hariti were inspected as part of the study in order to evaluate the measuring conditions. The measuring conditions have been evaluated as acceptable but due to some complexity of the terrain around the masts more detailed wind analysis are required in order to de-termine the wind energy resources more accurately. Photos of the meteorological stations at Thumrait and Qairoon Hariti and the surrounding landscape are in-cluded in Appendix 2.
4.1.2 Wind energy resources
A rough estimate of the wind energy content at 80 m above ground level has been made at each of the five selected met stations based on the hourly mean wind speed data for 2006 received from DGCAM. The calculation sheet is en-closed in Appendix 7.
The annual wind energy content at each met mast is indicated on Fig. 4.2. The energy is specified as kWh per year through a vertical area of one m2, kWh/year/m2.
Fig. 4.2 Energy content in the wind at 80 m above ground level at five meteoro-logical stations.
4.1.3 Potential capacity for grid connected wind turbines As a general rule based on experiences the maximum wind power capacity should not exceed approximately 15 % - 20 % of the existing conventional power capacity of the system in order to avoid disturbances in the power quality due to the fluctuating power generation by the wind turbines. In case of sufficient grid capacity a higher percentage of wind turbine capacity can be connected to the grid.
In Oman the future power system will have a total capacity of 5000 MW (2015) and the power system in the north and in the south will be interconnected. The technical future potential for installation of wind turbine capacity in Oman will be at least 750 MW.
Another technical limitation for installation of wind power capacity is the avail-ability of open land without obstacles for erection of the turbines.
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Quiroon Hariti Thumrait Masirah Joba Sur
Energy content, kWh/m2/year
Location
The space required for installation of wind farms with a total capacity of 750 MW is available in the mountains north of Salalah where the highest wind speeds in Oman are measured. Another possibility for installation of wind tur-bines is at Sur where the third highest wind energy resources are observed. The estimated required land area for a 750 MW wind farm is in the order of 100 km2 assuming 375 turbines with a capacity of 2 MW each. A photo of the landscape in the Dhofar Mountains is included in Appendix 2.
4.1.4 Potential electricity generation At different locations
A tentative estimate of the energy output by a 2 MW wind turbine erected in the five high wind areas in Oman is shown in Fig. 4.3. The reference wind turbine has a hub height of 80 m and a rotor diameter of 90 m.
Fig. 4.3 Estimated annual energy output by a 2 MW wind turbine at different locations
Total electricity generation
The wind conditions at Thumrait and at Quiroon Hariti and a 2MW reference wind turbine with a hub height of 80 m has been used as a n example for estima-tion of the technical potential for electricity generaestima-tion by wind turbines. The location at Masirah is not considered suitable for installation of large scale wind power capacity as the present power system is an isolated system and the energy consumption on the island is relatively small. In the power system connects to the main system via sea cables Masirah may be relevant for installation of wind turbines. Joba and Sur could be potential sites for wind turbines, however the annual output at these locations is more than 25 % lower than at Quiroon Hariti.
The tentative estimated annual net energy output from a 2 MW wind turbine at Thumrait is 5820 MWh/year and at Quiroon Hariti the net output is 6470 MWh/year. If half of the capacity equal to 375 MW is installed at wind condi-tions corresponding to the wind condicondi-tions at Thumrait and the other half of the capacity is installed at wind conditions similar to the conditions at Quiroon Hariti the total annual net output of 750 MW wind turbine capacity will be in the order of 2300 GWh/year. This corresponds to 20 % of the total electricity generation
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Quiroon Hariti Thumrait Masirah Joba Sur
MWh/year
Location