Wind power potential of Baja California Sur, México

Renewable Energy 29 (2004) 2087–2100
www.elsevier.com/locate/renene
Wind power potential of Baja California Sur,
México
O.A. Jaramillo , R. Saldaña, U. Miranda
Instituto de Investigaciones Electricas, Energias No Convencionales, Ed. 18 P.A. Calle Reforma,
113 Col. Palmira, 62490 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
Received 11 December 2003; accepted 9 March 2004
Abstract
This work is an analysis of wind characteristics of Baja California Sur (BCS), México,
during the period from February 1997 to February 1998. Fifteen wind stations located in the
eastern coastal area recorded the wind speed and wind direction for this region. The wind
resources of BCS were recorded and the annual average wind speed, power density, and
annual energy density at 10 m above ground level are presented here.
We considered the wind data from El Cardón, BCS, as a case study. This location can be
considered to be representative of the 15 wind stations that were installed in BCS. Using the
Weibull probability density function, we estimated the wind energy output and the capacity
factor for two different wind turbines during the year. The capacity factors for both wind
turbines were estimated at close to 25%. Considering the wind energy output and the
capacity factor, we estimated the levelized production costs for both wind turbines. Taking
into account two different discount rates of 7% and 10%, we developed data for the levelized
production cost of both wind turbines.
# 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Wind energy; Levelized production cost; Baja California Sur, México
Corresponding author. Centro en Investigacion en Energia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de
Mexico, Privada Xochicalco S/N, 62580 Temixco, Morelos, Mexico. Tel.: +52-777-325-0052; fax: +52777-325-0018.
E-mail address: ojs@cie.unam.mx (O.A. Jaramillo).
0960-1481/$ - see front matter # 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.renene.2004.03.004