Assessment of centralized grid connected wind power cost in coastal area of Pakistan

This work presents an assessment of per unit cost of electricity generated from 15MW wind farm at 40 locations in the coastal areas of Pakistan using the method of net present value analysis. The Nordex N43/600 wind turbine has been selected and used as reference wind turbine. Wind duration curves were developed and utilized to calculate per unit cost of electricity generated from chosen wind turbine. In Sindh province, the minimum cost of electricity generated was found to be 4.2 c/kWh at Jamshoro, while the corresponding maximum was 7.4 c/kWh at Kadhan site. In Balochistan, the minimum cost of electricity generated was found to be 6.3 c/kWh at Aghore, while the corresponding maximum was 21.0 c/kWh at Mand site. The study concludes that at most of the locations especially in Sindh province, wind power is competitive to conventional grid connected thermal power even without considering the externalities. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.