1. Introduction

Demand for renewable energy has been increasingly justified over the last couple of years as world powers turn to clean, green energy while overdependence on fossil fuel generation is still prominent in developing countries. Nevertheless, there is an expectation that renewable energy sources will play a wider role over the next two decades in energy with wind energy projected to contribute 1.1 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of a total of close to 4 trillion kWh of renewable energy expected to be generated by year 2030. Furthermore, research suggests that solar and wind energy are currently the most likely to provide economically affordable alternate energy sources, because other renewable energy sources like tidal remain costly and inefficient [1]. It is obvious that wind and solar energy studies will be the center of future renewable engineering efforts. Solar energy is becoming more dominant especially in the Arab world where their massive deserts have already seen investigations into the possibility of generating solar energy with enough

capacity to power entire countries. With wind energy however, developing offshore wind turbines fit for tackling the substantially higher wind speeds accessible offshore while avoiding the issues of horizon and noise pollution is the way to go. In Ogoja community of southern Nigeria, the average wind speed is seen in this research to be good enough for a horizontal axis wind turbine using a Squirrel Cage Induction Generator due to its seeming advantages as detailed in later sections. Modern offshore wind energy systems are now faced with expectations of generating highly efficient, network frequency electricity in an autonomous and programmed manner and for 20 or more years consistently and continuously with little or no maintenance requirements in some of the harshest environments in the world. This constitutes the challenges encountered by wind energy engineers today [2].

which turns a generator to create electricity [5]. The quantitative measurement of accessible wind energy at any point is called the wind power density (WPD). It is calculated as available mean power per square meter of area swept by a turbine with SI unit of watt per square meter. This indicates how much extractable energy on site. Wind turbines are fabricated in two axis types (vertical and horizontal) and in a wide variety. The smallest types of wind turbines are used as a means of charging battery units used for generation of back-up power. Larger turbines are used to

Modeling and Simulation of a 10 kW Wind Energy in the Coastal Area of Southern Nigeria…

• Utility scale wind systems; wind systems that generate power larger than

• Distributed or small wind systems, which uses wind turbines of 100 kW or

• Offshore wind systems, are turbines mounted on water bodies around the world. Depending on speed of wind in that area, they can be used to power

Wind energy is of course, one of the cheapest renewable sources per unit of energy produced, as well its technologies is one of the fastest rising technologies in energy generation industry across the world, yet not so much in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa. It has been suggested that a network of land based 2.5 MW wind turbines can generate over 40 times the current electricity consumption in the world [5]. In Nigeria, renewable energy sources have been restricted to solar energy this is because wind energy is not considered viable due to low wind speeds in most parts of the country. Wind speed is generally considered moderate in the south with the exception of coastal areas and offshore. On the other hand, in the hilly regions of

An analysis of wind energy potential in Kano State, Nigeria was done by [7], based on wind data taken for 21 years at a height of 10 m. The data was statistically tested using Weibull probability density function. Results showed an expected average wind speed ranging from 6.5 to 9 m/s, good enough to drive a wind conversion system with wind power estimations as high as 12 MWh/m<sup>2</sup>

tical wind turbines where also analyzed with the data, giving positive results and economic viability of wind power in Kano State. Refs. [8, 9] noted the viability of renewable energy in Nigeria, the advantages and challenges and as well stated that the high cost of power supply and carbon emission reduction could be realized with

In another article on wind energy potential in selected south western states, the investigation surveyed wind energy capability often chosen sites in the south western region of Nigeria and carried out a cost benefit analysis at those sites. Wind speed data at 10 m height gotten from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency was utilized to classify the sites wind profiles for electricity generation. The result demonstrated that sites in Lagos and Oyo States were suited for generation at a substantial scale with average wind speeds. Enough power can be generated with several small turbines connected together. The result demonstrated that the region's wind profiles and qualities are reasonable enough for wind power generation. Average wind speeds from 1.9 to 5.3 m/s are predominant, while the most likely wind speed ranged between 1.9 and 6.2 m/s, with the maximum energy conveying

. Five prac-

generate power for domestic use. Wind power can be classified as:

100 kilowatts (kW) to provide power to a grid system.

lower than that to power directly a home, farm, etc.

whole communities.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85064

4.1 Wind energy in Nigeria

the north, it is strongest [6].

the use of renewable sources energy.

47

speeds between 2.2 and 8.6 m/s across all the stations [7].
