Assessment of the Wind Power Potential in the Gulf of Urabá, Department of Antioquia

Abstract

In this work, an estimation of the wind resource potential was calculated using the Weibull method in the Gulf of Urabá, where wind velocities reach significant and more uniform values. Particularly, this potential was calculated at the coordinates 8,713280° latitude and -77,075274° longitude, where the power density varies between 33,59 and 128,39 W/m2 throughout the year. Based on the guidelines established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the power curves of commercial wind turbines, the installation of 875 offshore-type wind turbines in the Gulf of Urabá was determined to generate monthly and annual averages of electrical energy of 522 982,66 MWh and 6 275,79 GWh, respectively. The wind potential of the selected point represented 8,72% of the electrical energy demanded in Colombia during 2019, which was around 71,93 TWh. Therefore, the use of the wind resource in this area might contribute to the development of the national policy related to the utilization of non-conventional sources of renewable energy (NCSRE), guaranteeing energy security and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. However, the incorporation of NCSRE in the national energy matrix poses challenges in the flexibility of the energy system network, which must be solved to ensure the reliability of the system.