
Investigating the possibility of using wind energy in Iran / Azad Mohammadi
For thousands of years, humans have been using wind energy. In ancient Egypt, 5000 years before Christ, they used wind energy to cross the Nile River. In 200 BC, in China, they used wind pumps to extract water from underground. In addition, in Iran and the Middle East, they used wind to grind grains in 800 BC. Until the 11th century, wind was widely used in the Middle East to produce food. During the Crusades, Europeans brought this technology to Europe. The Dutch created large wind pumps near the Rhine River to drain lakes and swamps. Then European immigrants brought this technology to the Western Hemisphere. In America, windmills were used to grind grains, pump water, and cut wood in sawmills. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, small electric wind generators (wind turbines) were widely used.
The discovery of oil led to a decrease in the use of wind energy. With the invention and use of engines that ran on non-renewable fuels such as coal, oil, etc., attention towards renewable energy sources like wind decreased. This trend continued until the 1970s. In this decade, factors such as the rise in oil prices due to increased demand, the Arab-Israeli war, and the embargo on oil sales by Muslim Arab countries, environmental crises such as global warming, and the interest in using alternative energy sources like wind for electricity production, regained momentum.
With the continuation of environmental crises and the depletion of natural resources, we will be forced to choose alternatives for electricity production, and the best alternative will be the use of renewable energy sources. By renewable energy sources, we mean zero-carbon sources (sources that do not emit carbon). Renewable energy sources create minimal pollution compared to other fuels and are endless. They are also economically competitive with other fuels in recent years.
In recent years, the average increase in wind energy production in the world has been 30%, which has been the highest among other energy sources. The outlook for energy production (electricity) in some countries is as follows: Germany plans to produce close to 30% of its electricity by 2030 by building 54 gigawatts of wind farms, Japan plans to create 11 gigawatts of wind energy by 2030, and Brazil plans to generate 10% of its electricity with the help of wind by 2022.
Wind turbines are used to convert wind energy into electricity. The efficiency of turbines is directly related to wind speed, and the wind speed at a location is measured by evaluating the wind source before constructing a wind system. Typically, an average annual wind speed of more than 4 meters per second is required for small wind turbines. Wind energy power plants require an average minimum wind speed of 6 meters per second. The electricity produced by turbines is proportional to the cube of wind speed, meaning that doubling the wind speed increases the resulting electricity by a factor of 8. Therefore, a turbine operating at an average wind speed of 3.3 meters per second can hypothetically generate about 33% more electricity than a turbine at a wind speed of 3 meters per second. Most manufacturers of wind turbines for general use recommend machines in the range of 700 kilowatts to 2 megawatts. The average residential consumption in the United States is about 10,000 kilowatt-hours (
Now, there has been remarkable progress in the construction of wind turbines. For example, the company “General Electric” has built a wind turbine with an impressive capacity of 13 megawatts. This new 13 megawatt turbine can soon produce up to 312 megawatt-hours of electricity daily, which is eight percent more than the previous maximum production by the 12 megawatt “GE Haliade-X” turbine in the port of Rotterdam, Netherlands (which is likely the largest wind turbine in the world). This turbine has set a world record by becoming the first turbine to produce 262 megawatt-hours of energy in 24 hours, enough to power 30,000 homes in the area, and if the estimated amount for the new turbine in America is achieved, a new record will be set in this field.
The situation in Iran.
Based on the conducted studies and with reference to the statistics obtained from synoptic stations in Iran, many regions of Iran, including coastal areas of the Sea of Oman and the Persian Gulf islands, coastal areas of Khuzestan province and eastern regions of the country, along with places like Rafsanjan, Ardabil, Bijar, etc. are windy areas and have the potential for wind power generation, especially during the summer season. However, in many other parts of the country, wind power generation is also possible during certain periods throughout the year.
In the studies conducted, data related to 120 synoptic stations between 1994-2003 were examined and it was determined that the highest annual average wind speed in Iran is related to Manjil station with a speed of 6.25 meters per second, followed by Zabol station with a speed of 6 meters per second. Birjand, Rafsanjan, Kish, Ardabil, and Bijar stations also have an average wind speed of over 4 meters per second. Additionally, Jask, Aligudarz, Sirri, Zarinah, Torbat-e-Jam, Bandar Mahshahr, Chabahar, Ardestan, Borujerd, Bastan, Abu Musa, Tabriz, Zahedan, Nojeh Hamedan, Sardasht, Nayin, and Kuhnuj stations have an average wind speed between 3 to 4 meters per second. The fastest wind recorded in
One of the criteria for studying windiness in a location for the construction of wind turbines is the duration of wind throughout the year. In Iran, Rafsanjan station has had wind with speeds higher than 4 meters per second for 66% of the time during the year, ranking first in this regard. After that, Zabol stations rank second with 64% of the time during the year. Other regions such as Aligudarz, Torbat-e-Jam, Khor Birjand, Sirri, Kish, Jask, Zirineh Oubatoo, Manjil, and Chabahar also have wind speeds higher than 4 meters per second for more than 50% of the time during the year.
Generally, Iran is very windy during the spring and summer seasons. Considering that most areas of Iran have the potential for wind energy production during the hot months of the year, and since hydroelectric energy production decreases and electricity consumption increases during these months, it is essential to use clean and free wind energy for electricity production. In terms of time of day, except for the Zabol station which is windier in the morning, other stations in the country are windier in the afternoon and especially in the evening. Since this is the hottest time of day and electricity consumption for cooling devices increases, wind energy can be used as a complementary source of electricity production during this time.
Notes:
1. Wheat farmer, Amir, evaluation of wind energy potential in Iran, Journal of Geography and Environmental Planning, Year 20, Issue 36, Winter 1388.
2- Wind Energy Resources and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Wind Turbines, Electric News, 16 August 2017.
3- The giant turbine that provides enough energy for a household for 2 days with one rotation, ISNA, 17 Azar 1399.
4- History of Wind Energy, US Energy Information Administration website, March 17, 2021.
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Azad Mohammadi Monthly Peace Line Magazine Peace Agreement Number 126 peace line Renewable energy Renewable energy 2 Wind energy