Pre-feasibility Study of Wind Power and Site Suitability Analysis in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

The increasing population growth and industrialization in Ethiopia has led to a surge in energy production, necessitating an expansion of its renewable energy sector. Rapid capacity growth is crucial to meet increasing energy demand, with wind energy being a promising solution. However, the research and development level in the country is below the expected level, indicating a need for further development. This study investigates the potential of wind energy in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, focusing on determining its potential, identifying suitable sites, and modeling a hypothetical wind farm. The research utilizes NASA’s MERRA reanalysis data, national meteorological agency data, and vortex data to identify wind energy prospects and site selection. The results show that Afretu (site 1) is a better candidate than Jelo (site 2) and K’ench’era (site 3). The study suggests that the potential exists for a large, independent wind farm, which can be used by urban and energy planners to choose the best alternative energy based on site characteristics and constraints. Future research should consider turbine blade performance and fatigue load impacts from problematic wind conditions using advanced simulations like Qblade, FAST, and TurbSim.