Abstract:
The sustainability and economy of the current South African National Antarctic
Expedition IV (SANAE IV) base diesel-electric power system are threatened by
the current high fuel prices and the environmental pollution reduction obligations.
This thesis presents the potential technical, environmental and economical
challenges associated with the integration of small wind energy conversion system
(WECS) with the current SANAE IV diesel fuelled power system. Criteria
derived from technical, environmental and economic assessments are applied in
the evaluation of eight commercially available wind turbines as to determine the
most technically and economically feasible candidates.
Results of the coastal Dronning Maud Land and the local Vesleskarvet cold
climate assessments based on long term meteorological data and field data are
presented. Field experiments were performed during the 2007-2008 austral
summer. These results are applied in the generation of a wind energy resource
map and in the derivation of technical wind turbine evaluation criteria.
The SANAE IV energy system and the electrical grid assessments performed are
based on long term fuel consumption records and 2008 logged data. Assessment
results led to the identification of SANAE IV specific avoidable wind turbine grid
integration issues. Furthermore, electro-technical criteria derived from these
results are applied in the evaluation of the eight selected wind turbines.
Conceptual wind turbine integration options and operation modes are also
suggested.
Wind turbine micro-siting incorporating Vesleskarvet specific climatological,
environmental and technical related issues are performed. Issues focusing on wind
turbine visual impact, air traffic interference and the spatial Vesleskarvet wind
distribution are analysed. Three potential sites suited for the deployment of a
single or, in the near future, a cluster of small wind turbines are specified.
Economics of the current SANAE IV power system based on the South African
economy (May 2008) are analysed. The life cycle economic impact associated
with the integration of a small wind turbine with the current SANAE IV power
system is quantified. Results of an economic sensitivity analysis are used to
predict the performance of the proposed wind-diesel power systems. All wind
turbines initially considered will recover their investment costs within 20 years
and will yield desirable saving as a result of diesel fuel savings, once integrated
with the SANAE IV diesel fuelled power system.
Finally, results of the technical and economical evaluation of the selected
commercially available wind turbines indicated that the Proven 6 kWrated, Bergey
10 kWrated and Fortis 10 kWrated wind turbines are the most robust and will yield
feasible savings.
