An Assessment of Wind Energy Generation Potentials in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract The demand for sustainable and clean energy has increased the need for renewable and eco-friendly energy such as wind energy in Nigeria. The potential to generate wind energy may vary from one region to another. The information on the potential to generate wind energy is largely unavailable in Nigeria, thereby limiting the generation of wind energy and underutilization of environmental resources that could use for wind energy generation particularly in highland regions such as Jos Plateau that are considered favorably disposed to powerful wind movement. This study assessed wind energy generation potential of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, with focus on the influence of terrain characteristics and land use/land cover on wind speed and site suitability. The objectives of the study are, to analyze spatial variations in wind speed and direction across different elevations, slopes, and landforms in Jos, to assess the influence of land surface characteristics such as slope aspect, surface roughness, and land use types on wind energy availability, to develop wind energy potential maps using GIS and remote sensing tools, integrating topographic and meteorological data, to identify and recommend optimal locations for wind turbine siting in Jos based on multi-criteria terrain suitability analysis. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data, and Landsat satellite imagery were analyzed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, ArcGIS, alongside remote sensing techniques. Land use/land cover classification, wind speed maps, and terrain maps (elevation, slope, and aspect) were generated and integrated using a weighted overlay multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to produce a wind energy suitability map. The results showed that about 69.1% of the study area is characterized by gentle slopes (0–7°), which is suitable for turbine installation, while steeper slopes are limited. Aspect analysis revealed a dominance of east- and west-facing slopes, which favour prevailing wind flow. Elevation analysis indicated that a large portion of the plateau lies between 1,101 m and 1,300 m, with about 36.5% of the area above 1,301 m, contributing to higher wind speeds due to terrain-induced acceleration. The average wind speed across the study area ranged between 3.0 m/s and above 5.0 m/s, with moderate wind speeds (4.1–5.0 m/s) covering 35.9% of the area and high wind speed zones (>5.0 m/s) accounting for 22.2%, mainly along ridgelines in areas such as Jos East and Bassa. Lower wind speeds (<3.0 m/s) were confined to valleys and sheltered areas. Land use analysis revealed that grasslands (about 41.5%) and low-density agricultural lands provide the most suitable surfaces for wind energy development due to low surface roughness, while forests and built-up areas reduce wind speed and are less suitable. The suitability analysis indicated that approximately 22.5% of the study area is highly suitable for wind energy development, while 34.3% is suitable, with favourable locations concentrated in elevated and open areas such as Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Jos East, and parts of Bassa. Keywords: Wind energy potential; GIS; Land use/land cover; Wind speed distribution; Terrain analysis; Renewable energy.