A Study on Estimation of Wind Speed Distribution by Using the Modified Weibull Distribution

Abstract

The knowledge of the probability density function of wind speed is key information for the determination of wind energy potential of the specified region. In the literature, the Weibull distribution is a widely-used and accepted distribution to express the probability density function of wind speed data. However, the Weibull distribution does not exhibit a good fitting for all wind speed data measured at different geographical locations throughout the world. Thus, in this study, it is proposed that a better fitting of wind speed data and a better estimating wind power density are possible with the new modified Weibull distribution (MWD). We also compare the performance of the MWD relative to the Weibull distribution by using wind speed data measured in different regions of Turkey. The results state that the MWD shows good fitting for the most of the considered wind speed data cases. Thus, the MWD can be an alternative tool for the assessment of wind energy potential.

The knowledge of the probability density function of wind speed is key information for the determination of wind energy potential of the specified region. In the literature, the Weibull distribution is a widely-used and accepted distribution to express the probability density function of wind speed data. However, the Weibull distribution does not exhibit a good fitting for all wind speed data measured at different geographical locations throughout the world. Thus, in this study, it is proposed that a better fitting of wind speed data and a better estimating wind power density are possible with the new modified Weibull distribution (MWD). We also compare the performance of the MWD relative to the Weibull distribution by using wind speed data measured in different regions of Turkey. The results state that the MWD shows good fitting for the most of the considered wind speed data cases. Thus, the MWD can be an alternative tool for the assessment of wind energy potential.