Wind Energy Potential of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

Fumilayo W. O. Saporu, Gongsin Isaac Esbond

Abstract: The wind characteristics of Maiduguri were examined in this paper. Available monthly data show that there is abundant wind. The analysis further shows that the wind is sufficient to support the establishment of a wind turbine with a cut-in-speed of 3.2 m/s, which can generate 4.65 W of electricity at 140 m hub height. It was also shown that if a wind turbine of 11, 000 m2 swept area is used, 51.2 kW of electricity, for a small scale wind power, can be generated. This makes the establishment of wind farm feasible and, therefore, recommended.

Keywords: cut-in-speed, wind energy, Weibull model, extractable power, wind farm