| dc.description.abstract | This study presents a preliminary investigation on the feasibility of generating clean energy extracted from the wind in the Bay Islands Region of Honduras, specifically the island of Roatán. The 2005-2014 measured daily-time series data from Roatán’s Juan Manuel Galvez International Airport was statistically analyzed using the Windographer software tool. The study assesses a wind analysis in different periods of time. The analysis done with Windographer was classified into several periods:
• Overall analysis: includes the analysis of the entire recollected data, from 2005 to 2014.
• Yearly analysis: includes a separate analysis of the data per year.
• Seasonal and monthly analysis: includes an analysis based on the regional behavior according to rainy season, dry season, and its monthly characteristics.
In addition, an estimation of yearly power outputs from the wind was examined under the basis of 3 different scenarios:
• Small scale: considers energy production with 10 small scale Seaforth AOC 50 kW turbines.
• Medium scale: considers energy production with 10 medium scale Enercon E-33 330 kW turbines.
• Large scale: considers energy production with 10 large scale Gamesa G114 2 MW turbines.
The region, according to the wind classification system, constitutes as Class 3. The 10 year measured results give it a mean wind speed of 4.89 m/s at a recording height of 5.00 m above the ground, with a wind power density of 307 W/m2 at a 50.00 m height above the ground. The annual energy output using small scale turbines resulted in 146.8 MWh for the first scenario (at a hub height of 30 m), using medium scale turbines 742.2 MWh for the second scenario (at a hub height of 37 m), and using large scale turbines 7,407.6 MWh for the third scenario (at a hub height of 80 m).
The economics under these 3 scenarios were also investigated, using the cost per unit of energy approach. Furthermore, a financial viability analysis was implemented with the help of the RETScreen 4 Software tool.
The cost per unit of energy was $0.33/kWh for the first scenario, $0.15/kWh for the second scenario, and $0.08/kWh for the third scenario. The financial analysis reveals that under a market price of $0.14/kWh, the first scenario is not economically viable because the payback period exceeds that of the projects life cycle of 20 years, and the NPV is negative; the second scenario is feasible, having a positive NPV, however, it isn’t economically attractive given that the internal rates of return are below 12%; the third scenario is feasible and economically attractive given that it presents a payback period within the projects life cycle, with an attractive IRR, and a positive NPV.
Based on the results and observations made during the course of the research, it is apparent that the wind resource at Juan Manuel Galvez International Airport is suitable for wind extraction, especially in the case of larger scale applications.
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