Establishing the wind map for Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia

Abstract

The research project entitled "Establishing The Wind Map of Sabah and Sarawak" had commenced in April 2003 with the aim of studying the wind characteristic, producing the wind map and determining the possible sites of producing electricity using the technology of low wind speed wind turbine (LWSWT) in the two countries. Wind data for the 10 meteorological stations in Sabah and Sarawak had been obtained from `Malaysia Meteorological Department', Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Wind data for a period of 5 consecutive years (1998-2002) for each meteorological station had been processed, analyzed and used in this research. All the 5 meteorological stations in Sarawak (Kucing, Sri Aman, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri meteorological stations) are situated near the coast line whereas there is none in the vast interior areas of the country. This, in fact caused some hindrance to the process of establishing the wind map of Sarawak itself. To accelerate the process, wind data for Bario, Belaga and Kapit had been established through the wind strength correlations between these places and the existing meteorological stations in Sarawak and Labuan. Sabah on the other hand, although all the 4 existing meteorological stations in the country also situated near the coast line but these locations are seems to be well arranged like a circle encircling the entire country. Hence, the wind data for only a single interior location had been established through wind strength correlation. The said identified location was Tongod and the wind data has been predicted through the wind strength correlation between this location and all the 4 existing meteorological stations in Sabah (Kota Kinabalu, Kudat, Sandakan and Tawau meteorological stations) and Labuan. Wind, roughness and obstacle data for each o f t he meteorological and identified w ind strength correlated stations in Sabah and Sarawak had been processed in accordance to the need and requirement of the WAsP Commercial Software. The processed data were then fed into the software in order to establish the wind map for Sabah and Sarawak at the heights of 20 and 50 meters above ground level. Wind data from Mulu meteorological station had been used in validating the accuracy of prediction portrayed the wind map of Sarawak for the height of 20 meters above ground. The outcomes of the validation test were very satisfactory. Three types of wind maps for Sabah and Sarawak had been established i.e. the North East Monsoon Season, the South West Monsoon Season and the Yearly Wind Maps. These maps give the values of wind power at specified locations in Watt/m2. This research had been conducted successfully. The details and outcomes of this research are being explicitly explained in this final research report.