Feasibility Of Wind Energy Utilization In Qatar*

Abstract

This work presents an assessment of the potential and economical feasibility of adopting wind energy as a renewable source of energy in Qatar. An analysis is presented for the long term measured wind speed (1976-1989) at Doha International Airport. The average annual wind speed was found to be about 4.4 m/s, which indicates the suitability of utilizing only small wind turbine generators, efficiently. Such small generators can be implemented for water pumping and to produce sufficient electricity to meet vital, limited needs of remote locations, such as isolated farms, which do not have access to the national electricity grid. An economical assessment is presented which takes into consideration the interest recovery factor, the life time of the wind energy conversion system (WECS), the investment rate and operation and maintenance costs. The results indicate that the cost of electricity generation from the wind in Qatar compares favorably to that from fossil fuel resources.