Estimation of Weibull Distribution Parameters and Wind Power Density for Wind Farm Site at Akal at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan

Weibull distribution function is widely used for representing wind speed distribution at a location. Weibull three parameter distribution also accounts null velocities which are not accounted in Weibull two parameter distribution. Rayleigh distribution is nothing but a special case of Weibull distribution or say it is one parameter Weibull distribution function. A wind farm potential is depicted by the wind power density of the wind farm site. Wind power density is calculated by the available wind speed distribution data. In this study, monthly wind power density (WPD) at two heights (60 m and 90 m) for Akal site at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan are investigated statistically by using measured wind data provided by National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) for the year 2014. Three different methods namely Rayleigh distribution, Weibull two parameter distribution, and Weibull three parameter distribution are used for estimating the monthly wind power density. Air density is calculated for the chosen site with the available meteorological data at 10 m height for pressure and temperature from NASA in RETScreen Expert software and extrapolated to other heights using the relations available in the literature.