Preliminary Assessment of Wind Energy Resource over Thailand

Abstract

To assess w

ind energy resource over Thailand, the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) is used to simulate wind fields on an hourly basis at levels of 30, 50, 70, 100, 150, 200 m. above the ground in the period of 2005 to 2007. The study domain covers 94  E to 110  E in longitude and 4  N to 22  N in latitude with resolution 10 x 10 km. The model inputs are taken from the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). Simulation wind speeds, temperatures are in generally good agreement with the observed ones at 5 monitoring stations. Analysis shows that there are 2 time periods (June-August and December-March) in a year when wind is relatively strong. The first period is influenced by the South-West monsoon while the second by the North-East monsoon. During June to August the strongest winds at an average speed of 7-8 m./s at level 50 m. are in the west of the country, i.e. Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi and in the North-East i.e border between Lop Buri, Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Chaiyaphum provinces. The strongest wind speed of 8-9 m./s  at level 50 m. are in area of the South, i.e  Surat Thani,  Nakhon Si Thammarat  and Trung provinces including the  coast  of the Gulf of Thailand from Songkhla to Pattani, On average, the highest wind speed  of 9-10 m./s at level 50 m. with wind power 600-700 W/m2 is in Nakhon Si Thammarat. During December to March Chaiyaphum Roiet  Kalasin  Mukdaharn   Amnat Charoen, Yasothon and  Ubon Ratchathani  provinces are the high Potential  wind area in the North-East. In the South the highest average wind speeds of 8-9 m./s at level 50 m. with wind power 400-500 W/m2 are found in Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat. Moreover at level 100 m.the areas with the highest wind velocity greater than at level 50 m..The rest of the country is not suitable for wind farming. This work is already prepared in GIS.

Keywords : Wind Energy / Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS)