WRF Wind Speed Simulation and SAM Wind Energy Estimation: A Case Study in Dili Timor Leste

This paper presents a study of wind speeds for heights of 100 and 120 m above Hera mountain which is located in Dili. The results of wind speed simulation from January to December 2014 are used as input data to estimate wind energy. The weather research and forecasting (WRF) model is used to simulate one year's wind speed for nesting domain 1x1 km at 100 and 120 m heights above Hera mountain. It is done using six-hourly interval 1° x 1° NCEP FNL analysis data for initial simulation. The system advisor model version SAM 2017.9.5 is used to estimate wind energy performance with the power purchase agreement (single owner) model. The results show the lowest average wind speed is 3.83 m/s obtained in November with an average monthly energy of 3.8 GWh for 100 m height and 5.57 GWh for 120 m height. The highest average monthly wind energy is 33.9 GWh obtained in January for 100 m height and 50 GWh for 120 m height when average wind speeds from both heights reached ±9 m/s. Finally, it is concluded that the WRF model performed with SAM is a good combination to simulate local wind speed and wind energy for local consumption.