Geospatial Evaluation of Wind Energy Potential in the South-East and South-South Sections of Nigeria

Year 2019, Volume: 6 Issue: 3, 244 - 253, 08.12.2019

Ndukwe E. Chiemelu Ugonna Nkwunonwo , Francis İ. Okeke Oliver C. Ojinnaka

https://doi.org/10.30897/ijegeo.549796

Cited By: 2

Abstract

Investment into a renewable energy project spurs the
need to investigate sites with potential for a renewable energy source. Such a
crucial investigation is the main motivation for this study, which uses a geospatial
technology to evaluate wind energy potential within the south-east and
south-south regions of Nigeria. A multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) model
was implemented using Landsat TM images at bands 2, 3 & 4, and integrated
with NASA global wind speed data, airport location map and forest reserve map
of the area. The criteria for generation of wind energy potential map were:
wind speed ≥ 3m/s, 2000m buffer from built-up areas, 2,500m buffer from
airports and outside the forest reserve. The results indicate the presence of a
reasonable amount of potential for wind energy which lies mostly in the
southernmost part of the study area. The total potential area is about 104,700
hectares in land size, which is merely 1.2% of the total study area, although
River state encloses most of the potential locations. When compared to global
vortex wind data, by visual inspection, these potential areas show a great deal
of sensitivity to wind speed, highlighting its critical importance in the
present modelling. Wind farms can be located in this area, although it is a rather
small scale investment in a renewable energy resource considering that the
consumable amount of energy in the study area is in a steady increase. Stake
holders and experts in energy economy will find that the need to protect this
potential energy location from indiscriminate urban development and other
anthropogenic activities is compelling.  

Keywords

Geospatial technology, Suitability evaluation, Wind energy, Nigeria, Global vortex wind map, Landsat data, Multicriteria decision analysis

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