Wind resource assessment over Iran using weather station data

This paper investigates the wind energy potential over 42 sites in Iran. Ten years of wind data (1996–2005) were used from weather stations located at these sites. Different criteria were considered, including vertical wind profile, wind power density (WPD), wind frequency distribution, wind sustainability, seasonal variation, turbulence intensity and peak demand matching. Air density and roughness length, which play important role in the calculation of the WPD potential, were derived for each station site. Simple scoring was used to rank the mostly windy sites. It is concluded that Sistan and Bluchistan governorate (Zabol) has the highest potential. Zahedan, Jazireh Kish and Ardebil also have high wind power potential.