Optimum Operational Conditions for Power Generation for Ngong Hill Wind Farm

Abstract The Ngong Hill Wind Farm, in Kenya, represents a significant investment in renewable energy aimed at reducing the country's dependence on fossil fuels and enhancing sustainable power generation. In order to model an optimized wind farm layout, it is crucial to accurately measure, describe, and analyze the statistical properties of the wind available in the site. This research investigates the optimal operational conditions for effective power generation at the Ngong Hill Wind Farm. The analysis is based on long-term data spanning from 2010 to 2019 and consists of ten-minute mean wind measurements and validation data collected for three months of the year 2022. The power loss due to wake effects is analysed using the Jensen wake models, and simulation for power output done with simulations in PHYTON libraries. The study shows that the yearly average Weibull shape and scale parameters are 3.29 and 9.81 m/s, respectively. The maximum power extractable at optimum efficiency is 509 W/m², corresponding to wind power class V. Predominant wind directions are from North-East to South-East. The simulation for Annual Energy Produced (AEP) at the Ngong wind farm under wake interference conditions shows a significant power loss of 28.209%, reducing AEP from 61.86 GWh to 44.41 GWh. The actual net output is 12 GWh, much lower than expected due to wake effects and turbine downtime. From the study, turbine efficiency and the overall wind farm performance is maximized by addressing wake interference and optimizing maintenance scheduling.