Statistical analysis of wind and solar energy potential in Tehran

Abstract

Knowing the potential of wind and solar energy resources is vital to determine significant information of sizing, installing and implementation of renewable energy systems in a given region. The present study identifies wind and solar energy properties of a studied area located in Tehran, Iran, using input meteorological data measured for one year period provided by the Iran Renewable Energy Organization from a ground station, Letman Jungle. Many prior studies are limited in using average wind speed without classification of the resource. However, the present paper adopts the random fluctuations of wind speed data for classification purpose. Furthermore, it utilizes a temperature-based method to estimate solar energy potential of the region. In this regard, daily and monthly average amounts of global solar irradiation on horizontal surface are calculated all around a year. Regarding wind energy resource properties, the most probable wind speed and its direction, the velocity which carries the maximum energy, the average wind power density, and the wind energy density of the region are all calculated and discussed. Investigation of the results indicates harnessing solar energy would be more favourable for the studied region.