ASSESSMENT OF WIND ENERGY POTENTIAL AT KESSES REGION-KENYA BASED ON WEIBULL PARAMETERS

Wind energy potential assessment is an exercise that cannot be under estimated when it comes to designing and setting up a wind power project anywhere in the world. Parametric tools exist that can be used to analyse measured wind speed data in order to derive pertinent wind characteristics necessary for its efficient exploitation for power generation. This paper analyses wind speed characteristics and wind power potential at Kesses region, Kenya using Weibull parameters. A five year (2009-2013) wind speed data measured at a height of 2 m are used, and extrapolated to the standard height of 10 m and practical hub height of 100 m for purposes of characterization and exploitation respectively. The average wind speeds at the two heights were obtained respectively as 3.858 m/s and 6.926 m/s. Values of Weibull distribution functions showed that scale parameter, c, range from 2.54 m/s to a maximum of 3.04 m/s in 2010, while shape parameter, k, had a peak value of 5.90 in 2012. These results indicate the region to have potential for both small and medium scale wind power systems.