Modeling and Short Term Forecasting of Wind Speed Potentials for the Generation of Electricity for Nigerian Army University Biu

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: Wind energy is the natural air that flows through the wind turbine which provides mechanical power and turns to electrical generator. Current research proposed a model and forecast wind speed potentials for the generation of electricity for Nigerian Army University Biu and following challenges were addressed, wind speed potentials of Biu town was modeled, characterized, forecasted and also the effects of temperature and relative humidity on the wind speed were examined. Materials and Methods: Weibull model was employed to model and characterize the hourly average wind speed measured at 10 and 80 m for one week from 9^th-15^th June, 2019. Neuro-fuzzy hybrid model was used to forecast the hourly average wind speed. Results: The results show that the hourly average wind speed measured at 10 m was 2.58 ms^-1 and at 80 m was 3.56 ms^-1 and, the forecasted was 2.68 ms^-1 and 3.61 ms^-1, respectively. It was expected that the wind speed will increase by 5-12% on the 9^th-15^th June, 2020 and is adequate to turn the wind turbine especially at 80 m. It was examined that as temperature increases wind speed reduces, whereas the relative humidity does not show notable effect. Conclusion: Wind power can be an alternative source of power for the generation of electricity for Nigerian Army University Biu. It is further recommended that long term forecasting may be applied to assess the wind speed potentials for the remaining months and turbine higher 80 m may be required to enhance better performance.