Abstract
Diversifying the energy mix of Bangladesh is becoming indispensable not only to improve its energy security, but also for a more sustainable economic development. This study focused on mapping the wind potential of southern coastal areas of Bangladesh to estimate the wind energy potential, along with the reduction in carbon emissions due to wind energy. Analysis of the carbon footprint was based on the annual energy production (AEP) from the selected low-wind turbine generators (WTGs). The time series-measured and -predicted wind data were incorporated with the high-resolution mesoscale and microscale wind re-source mapping technique at 60, 80, and 100 m above ground level (AGL). Coupling mesoscale and microscale modeling provided reliable mapping results for the commercially exploitable wind resource and was verified by ground-based wind measurement. The results revealed that, among the selected areas, two sites named Charfashion and Monpura have a promising annual mean wind speed of 7.3 m/s at 100 m AGL for energy generation. Different WTGs with ranges of 1−3.3 MW were used to estimate the wind energy generation capacity at different sites in the study area. A WTG with a 1 MW wind energy generation capacity installed at 60 m AGL in the selected site has the potential to produce 2.79 GWh/year of clean energy, reducing 1781.689 tons of CO2 per year, whereas a 3.3 MW WTG at 80 m AGL can produce 18.99 GWh/year of energy, reducing 12,098.54 tons of CO2 per year, and a 1.6 MW WTG at 100 m AGL produces 11.04 GWh/year of energy, cutting 7035.028 tons of CO2 per year. With its reliable scientific and time-tested wind energy estimation method, this research is very important for the development of wind energy in the southern coastal areas of Bangladesh to meet the increasing energy demands through initiating the development of renewable energy to improve the energy security and reduce the carbon emissions of the country.