Realization of Small Wind Turbines for Low-Speed Wind Regions

As high-wind energy potential regions are less common now; it is becoming more crucial to generate wind energy in places where the wind velocity is light to moderate. This study uses the WERA model to estimate and compare the performances of 4 commercial wind turbines under low power density wind regimes. Wind turbines of 5 kW-rated capacity, from four prominent manufacturers, were considered in the study. The turbine's velocity power response and the site's Rayleigh probability density of wind velocity were used to model these turbines' performance at four typical sites with different average wind speeds in Kerala namely Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta. The turbine's performances are quantified with the energy production and capacity factor at different locations. It was revealed that the turbine's velocity power response is a crucial factor influencing the system performance. Reduction in the cut-in and rated wind speeds seems to improve the system's output in areas with low wind velocity.