WIND POWER POTENTIAL RESOURCES MAPPING FOR MICRO AND MINI GENERATION IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL*

Abstract

The Brazilian energy matrix stands out due to hydroelectricity, nonetheless, several issues have been preventing its expansion. This study aims to map Paraná State, with potential for micro and mini wind power generation, and to substantiate technical decisions of different relevance to building possible small wind farms. The analysis of wind power potential in the State was performed from data of 24 meteorological stations, obtained from the Meteorological Database for Teaching and Research, which is managed by the National Institute of Meteorology – INMET of Brazil. Through data, it was identified the wind predominance, the maximum wind flow velocity, and the average wind flow velocity, moreover it was elaborated thematic maps, through the QGis 2.18 software, presenting the wind power potential for two types of wind turbines. The results demonstrated that East winds are predominant (E) for the major part of State, Brazil, being the second predominant direction South winds, followed by Northeast winds. It was verified that the average wind flow velocity would vary from 0 to 4.40 m/s and that dominance of the highest wind flow velocity values, both the average and the maximum, would occur in the months of September, November, October, and August, to the end of the winter, spring and beginning of summer, and regarding the wind power potential, both for micro-generation and mini-generation, it was possible to demonstrate that in  State most of the months not show much variation of wind potential values, although some mesoregions presented wind potential to be explored.