Temporal Assessment of Wind Energy Resource in Algerian Desert Sites: Calculation and Modelling of Wind Noise

Miloud Benmedjahed and Laho

Abstract

Our study focuses on the assessment of wind resources of three desert sites in Algeria (Adrar, Ain Salah and Tindouf). The data used in this study span a period of 10 years. The parameters considered are the speed and direction of wind. For this purpose, the most energetic and frequent speed as well as the Weibull parameters to plot the wind rose were evaluated. The desert sites are favourable for large ZDE (Zone of Wind Development), why it was decided to investigate the possibility to set up a wind farm of 10 MW consisting of twelve wind turbine type WGT850 kW. Next, its noise was calculated and then modelled. The results obtained from the three sites gave annual mean speeds around 5 m/s; the West store is dominant for Tindouf, the East- North-East (ENE) store for Ain Salah and the East store. Our simulation of the noise propagation for wind farms shows that noise level is estimated around 45 dB at a distance of 300 m from the nearest turbine and 42 dB at a distance of 400 m. We can conclude that these noise levels have no effect on health and comply with the Algerian standard.

Relevant Publications in Journal of Fundamentals of Renewable Energy and Applications