Performance evaluation of Weibull function for wind data analysis in two selected locations in North-Western, Nigeria

In this study, the predictive ability of two-parameter Weibull distribution function in analyzing wind speed data was assessed in two selected sites with different mean wind speeds in the North-Western region of Nigeria. Twenty-two years wind speed data spanning from 1984 to 2005 was used in the analysis. The data were obtained from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) in Lagos. The results of the analysis show that Weibull function is suitable for analyzing measured wind speed data and in predicting the wind-power density in both locations and that Weibull function is not discriminative between locations with high and low mean wind speeds in analyzing wind data. The annual mean wind speeds for the two sites (Sokoto and Yelwa) are 7.99 ms-1 and 2.59 ms-1 respectively, while the annual values of the most probable wind speed and the maximum, energy-carrying wind speeds are respectively:3.52 and 4.34 ms-1 for Yelwa and 8.33 and 9.02 ms-1 for Sokoto. The estimated annual wind power densities for Yelwa and Sokoto are respectively 36.91 and 359.96 Wm-2. Therefore, Sokoto has a better prospect for wind power generation.