Wind Energy Suitability Mapping in Azerbaijan through GIS -Based Spatial Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52575/2712-7443-2025-49-4-768-781Keywords:
wind energy potential, GIS-based spatial analysis, renewable energy, Azerbaijan, MERRA-2, Global Wind AtlasAbstract
This study applies an integrated geospatial modelling framework to evaluate Azerbaijan’s wind energy potential and identify optimal locations for wind power plant deployment. Long-term meteorological records (1981–2020) from 84 stations, MERRA-2 satellite observations, and Global Wind Atlas data were combined within a GIS-based multi-criteria analysis. The results reveal that 10.7 % of the national territory (9,200 km²), primarily along the Caspian Sea coast and the Absheron Peninsula, exhibits average annual wind speeds of 5.6–8.5 m/s and power densities of 390–975 W/m² at 50 m hub height. The estimated technical potential is 800 MW, equivalent to 2.4 billion kWh/year, or 8.6 % of Azerbaijan’s 2022 electricity production. Performance modelling of 2 MW and 3.45 MW turbines indicates annual generation of 3.4–4.96 million kWh per unit, with hub heights of 100 m increasing yields by up to 38.5 %. Despite the current utilization of only 2.2 % of the technically exploitable 3,000 MW potential, large-scale deployment could raise this share to 20 % within the next decade, significantly reducing fossil fuel dependency and avoiding substantial CO₂ emissions. The integrated methodology – combining multi-source wind datasets, altitude-specific wind mapping, and turbine performance simulations – offers a replicable decision-support tool for sustainable energy planning in Azerbaijan and similar regions.
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