Assessment of wind-energy potential along the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast

Abstract

There is now no wind park operating along the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast, hence the goal of this study is to find some ideal circumstances for such projects. In order to fulfill this aim, wind data from five coastal meteorological stations were used for the evaluation. These are, respectively from west to east, Mersa Matruh (MM), Ras El-Tin (RE), Abu Qir (AQ), Port Said (PS) and Arish (Ar). The wind regime data (speed and direction) at 10-m height extended over 16 years from January 2007 to December 2022, with 0% missing record. The Weibull distribution function with its different parameters was used to characterise the wind energy along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast. Results revealed that the dominant wind direction along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast is the NNW to N wind, except at PS where the dominant wind is S. The wind seeped range 4–6 m/s dominated the entire coast except at Ar, where it is reduced to 2–4 m/s range. The analysis of wind power density revealed significant insights into the potential for wind energy generation in the region. The overall analysis showed that MM, AQ and PS are potentially the most suitable locations for wind energy projects. However, the high variability at AQ site requires robust system designs to manage the fluctuating wind conditions. MM and PS might be more suitable for projects prioritizing stability and consistency over maximum energy output. Arish, having the lowest wind power density might be less suitable for large-scale wind energy projects but could still be considered for smaller installations or in combination with other renewable energy sources.