 |
|
|
 | | Electric power production -- Fiji -- Rakiraki
|
 |
|  | Wind energy potential and electricity generation at Rokavukavu, Rakiraki in Fiji
Author: Gosai, Atesh Datt
Institution: University of the South Pacific.
Award: M.Sc. Physics
Subject: Wind power -- Fiji -- Rakiraki, Electric power production -- Fiji -- Rakiraki
Date: 2014
Call No.: Pac TJ 820 .G67 2014
BRN: 1201240
Copyright:10-20% of this thesis may be copied without the authors written permission
Abstract: Fiji is located between (latitudes 15° – 24° S and longitudes 174° E – 177° W) and in 2012, imported approximately FJD 1.2 billion worth of fossil fuels to meet the growing energy demand. There was a need to research the options of utilizing renewable energy to reduce the growing fuel demands. In the past wind resource assessments have been carried out in Fiji and results have shown that there is potential for wind power development. In this study the wind energy potential at Rokavukavu (17.33° S and 178.18° E), was determined using the onsite wind regime measurement. Onsite measurement using integrated renewable energy resource assessment system was used to obtain wind characteristics data at 34 m above ground level (a.g.l) from March 2012 to February 2013. Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program (WAsP) predicted the wind speed between 5.32 and 11.83 ms-1at 55 m a.g.l within the wind atlas. It estimated the maximum power densities and AEP for a single Vergnet 275 kW turbine as 1688 Wm-2 and 1.531 GWh respectively. A proposed wind farm consisting of six Vergnet 275 kW wind turbine with a 55 m hub height showed a net AEP of 8.38 GWh, with a capacity factor of 58% based on WAsP’s prediction. In addition, the AEP predicted by WAsP at the site of measurement was compared with the manually calculated value using the raw wind speed data. It was found that WAsP over predicted the AEP by 10.2%. A comprehensive economic analysis of the wind farm was carried out to determine the viability of the project. The benefit cost ratio, payback period, cost of energy and the internal rate of return were computed. The comprehensive economic analysis showed that it is economically viable to install a wind farm at Rokavukavu. Sensitivity economic analysis with the AEP reduced by 33% was carried out to establish the feasibility of installing a wind farm at Rokavukavu. The sensitivity economic analysis re-confirmed that wind farm comprising of 6 Vergnet 275 kW wind turbines at Rokavukavu is economically sustainable.
|
|
|