A study of wind energy potential: remedy for fluctuation of electric power in Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The wind energy potential for Mubi in Adamawa State of Nigeria (latitude 10 ° 15 ' and longitude 13 ° 15 ') has been studied and evaluated so as to remedy the fluctuating electric power, particularly, in Mubi which receive an average of only about 2.15 MW instead of 4.35 MW from the Power Holdings Company of Nigeria. This electric power fluctuations and outages usually disrupt economic and social activities.The computed monthly average wind speed in Mubi, Adamawa State is 3.44ms^-1 0.01% and the estimated power is 16.34Wm^-2 0.1%. The result is good enough, since the minimum wind speed required to turn the turbine of a wind machine is 3.0ms^-1. Comparative analysis using the Wind Speed Scale at 10m heights shows that this value of wind speed can be categorized as moderate especially when compared with other towns in Nigeria. This implies that if wind energy is properly harnessed, it can be captured and converted into electricity by a wind machine, which will alleviate the problems of incessant power failure in the study area. Aside, wind energy is a renewable source of energy and it is environmentally friendly which conforms to the national energy and environmental policy of Nigeria with respect to the new world order of economic development and environmental sustainability.

Keywords: wind energy potential, electric power fluctuation, wind speed

Nigerian Journal of Physics Vol. 17, 2005: 40-45