Technical and economic study of the installation of wind turbines providing electrical energy to houses in the settlement of Playa Blanca, Piura

Abstract

This article presents the technical and economic study of the installation of wind turbines providing electrical energy to houses in the settlement of Playa Blanca, Sechura, and Piura. The wind farm consists of three turbines of unit power 5 kW, corresponding to a total power of 15 kW. The yearly electrical energy outcome is 93.3 MWh, saving 57.38 tons of CO per year. The electrical energy produced is used to electrify the Playa Blanca population centre, with 2 a population of 260 inhabitants. This work begins with the study of the wind velocity. Measures were taken with a digital anemometer in order to determine the wind power available in the area and select the optimal location of each turbine. Secondly, a marketing survey was undertaken among the population to assess the maximal electricity demand of the settlement. The data gathered allowed to calculate the power of the wind turbine, the radius of the rotor, the height of the tower, as well as to select the parameters of the aerodynamic profile which were used to produce the design in SolidWorks software. From these results was derived an economic assessment based on the construction and operation costs of these wind turbines for a given period, as well as the reduction of carbon footprint thanks to the generation of electrical energy from renewable sources. In conclusion the wind farm requires an 103405.16 S/ investment for which the farm would be technically and economically viable and a directed maintenance plan is recommended to extend the equipment life.