Terra Joule Journal
Abstract
Wind energy has not been put in view for power generation in Iraq due to the low mean wind speed. To capture geographic variability, Sulaymaniyah in the north and Nasiriyah in the south were selected as they are over-average wind potential locations in Iraq and assessed using Weibull distribution models, extrapolated to operational hub heights, and cross-validated with satellite data. A Blade Element Momentum approach implemented in MATLAB was used to optimize rotor blade geometry, including twist angle and chord profile of two commercial wind turbines. The turbines were selected according to aerodynamic compatibility and site-specific wind conditions. Simulated layouts accounted for wake effects and topographic constraints, favoring linear designs in Sulaymaniyah and clustered designs in Nasiriyah. With the GE Vernova 6.0-164 MW turbine, Nasiriyah achieves wind power densities of 320–350 W/m2 and capacity factors of 0.50, while Sulaymaniyah achieves 250–300 W/m2 with the Vestas V150-4.5 MW turbine, achieving capacity factors of 0.47–0.48. This integrated optimization approach increased the projected annual energy yields by 70–78% compared to conventional layouts and turbine pairings. The significance of the work is the integration methodology of site data and commercial turbines specification analysis and integration to overcome the low mean wind speed problem. Through site-adapted, technologically modern, and context-sensitive strategies, it provides a replicable blueprint for emerging economies seeking to integrate wind energy into the national energy portfolios in Iraq.
Recommended Citation
Darwish, Abdul Salam K and Al-Kayiem, Hussain H.
(2025)
"Scalable Framework for Sustainable Wind Energy Production in Low-Wind Speed Regions: Case Studies From Iraq,"
Terra Joule Journal: Vol. 1:
Iss.
2, Article 7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64071/3080-5724.1018