Offshore Wind Energy Resource in the Kingdom of Morocco: Assessment of the Seasonal Potential Variability Based on Satellite Data
This study provides a first estimate of the offshore wind power potential along the Moroccan Atlantic shelf based on remotely sensed data. An in-depth knowledge of wind potential characteristics allows assessment of the offshore wind energy project. Based on consistent daily satellite data retrieved...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/1/31 |
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| author | Aïssa Benazzouz Hassan Mabchour Khalid El Had Bendahhou Zourarah Soumia Mordane |
| author_facet | Aïssa Benazzouz Hassan Mabchour Khalid El Had Bendahhou Zourarah Soumia Mordane |
| author_sort | Aïssa Benazzouz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study provides a first estimate of the offshore wind power potential along the Moroccan Atlantic shelf based on remotely sensed data. An in-depth knowledge of wind potential characteristics allows assessment of the offshore wind energy project. Based on consistent daily satellite data retrieved from the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) spanning the period from 2008 to 2017, the seasonal wind characteristics were statistically analyzed using the climatological Weibull distribution functions and an assessment of the Moroccan potential coastal wind energy resources was qualitatively analyzed across a range of sites likely to be suitable for possible exploitation. Also, an atlas of wind power density (WPD) at a height of 80 m was provided for the whole Moroccan coast. An examination of the bathymetrical conditions of the study area was carried out since bathymetry is among the primary factors that need to be examined with the wind potential during offshore wind project planning. The results were presented based on the average wind intensity and the prevailing direction, and also the wind power density was shown at monthly, seasonal and interannual time scale. The analysis indicated that the coastal wind regime of the southern area of Morocco has the greatest energy potential, with an average power density which can reach in some places a value around 450 W/m<sup>2</sup> at heights of 10 m and 80 m above sea level (a.s.l) (wind turbine hub height) more particularly in the south of the country. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:37:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a923416be88d41d4821e411dd72e9db9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:37:01Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-a923416be88d41d4821e411dd72e9db92023-11-21T07:26:19ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122020-12-01913110.3390/jmse9010031Offshore Wind Energy Resource in the Kingdom of Morocco: Assessment of the Seasonal Potential Variability Based on Satellite DataAïssa Benazzouz0Hassan Mabchour1Khalid El Had2Bendahhou Zourarah3Soumia Mordane4Nautical Science and Naval Engineering Department, Institut Supérieur d’Etudes Maritimes, Km 7, Road El Jadida, Casablanca B.P. 20520, MoroccoNautical Science and Naval Engineering Department, Institut Supérieur d’Etudes Maritimes, Km 7, Road El Jadida, Casablanca B.P. 20520, MoroccoNautical Science and Naval Engineering Department, Institut Supérieur d’Etudes Maritimes, Km 7, Road El Jadida, Casablanca B.P. 20520, MoroccoAssociated Unit URAC 45, Marine Geosciences and Sol Sciences Laboratory, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, University Chouaib Doukkali, El Jadida B.P. 20, 2400, MoroccoPolymer Physics and Critical Phenomenon Laboratory, Department of Physics, Faculté des Sciences Ben M’Sik, Casablanca B.P. 20350, MoroccoThis study provides a first estimate of the offshore wind power potential along the Moroccan Atlantic shelf based on remotely sensed data. An in-depth knowledge of wind potential characteristics allows assessment of the offshore wind energy project. Based on consistent daily satellite data retrieved from the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) spanning the period from 2008 to 2017, the seasonal wind characteristics were statistically analyzed using the climatological Weibull distribution functions and an assessment of the Moroccan potential coastal wind energy resources was qualitatively analyzed across a range of sites likely to be suitable for possible exploitation. Also, an atlas of wind power density (WPD) at a height of 80 m was provided for the whole Moroccan coast. An examination of the bathymetrical conditions of the study area was carried out since bathymetry is among the primary factors that need to be examined with the wind potential during offshore wind project planning. The results were presented based on the average wind intensity and the prevailing direction, and also the wind power density was shown at monthly, seasonal and interannual time scale. The analysis indicated that the coastal wind regime of the southern area of Morocco has the greatest energy potential, with an average power density which can reach in some places a value around 450 W/m<sup>2</sup> at heights of 10 m and 80 m above sea level (a.s.l) (wind turbine hub height) more particularly in the south of the country.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/1/31offshore windwind energy resourcesremote sensingASCAT |
| spellingShingle | Aïssa Benazzouz Hassan Mabchour Khalid El Had Bendahhou Zourarah Soumia Mordane Offshore Wind Energy Resource in the Kingdom of Morocco: Assessment of the Seasonal Potential Variability Based on Satellite Data Journal of Marine Science and Engineering offshore wind wind energy resources remote sensing ASCAT |
| title | Offshore Wind Energy Resource in the Kingdom of Morocco: Assessment of the Seasonal Potential Variability Based on Satellite Data |
| title_full | Offshore Wind Energy Resource in the Kingdom of Morocco: Assessment of the Seasonal Potential Variability Based on Satellite Data |
| title_fullStr | Offshore Wind Energy Resource in the Kingdom of Morocco: Assessment of the Seasonal Potential Variability Based on Satellite Data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Offshore Wind Energy Resource in the Kingdom of Morocco: Assessment of the Seasonal Potential Variability Based on Satellite Data |
| title_short | Offshore Wind Energy Resource in the Kingdom of Morocco: Assessment of the Seasonal Potential Variability Based on Satellite Data |
| title_sort | offshore wind energy resource in the kingdom of morocco assessment of the seasonal potential variability based on satellite data |
| topic | offshore wind wind energy resources remote sensing ASCAT |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/1/31 |
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