Assessment of Wind Energy Potential In Minna, Niger State, Nigeria,

Abstract

This study assesses the wind energy resources in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria by reviewing the existing literature on the subject matter and also evaluating the wind potential in Minna. Five years (2012 2016) wind speed data obtained from the Federal University of Technology Minna, Physics department weather monitoring station at Bosso campus, were used in the study. Weibull two parameter statistical model was employed in the analysis. Assessment of the wind-energy resources in the study location reveals that wind speed in Minna is from 0.49ms-1 to 1.61ms-1 at 4m above ground level, while wind energy potential in Minna has wind power density which varies from 0.10Wm-2 to 5.27Wm-2 at 4m above ground level. Thus, Minna is not suitable of large-scale and small-scale wind power generation for electricity because of the poor wind potential at surface level. However at higher heights of 30m above ground level, having wind power density of 160 Wm-2 will be suitable for pumping water using wind power.