Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Offshore Wind Energy Potential for Bahrain via Multi-criteria Evaluation

Version 1 : Received: 17 December 2020 / Approved: 18 December 2020 / Online: 18 December 2020 (14:54:47 CET)

How to cite: Palmer, D.; Elgabiri, M.; Al Buflasa, H.; Thomson, M. Offshore Wind Energy Potential for Bahrain via Multi-criteria Evaluation. Preprints 2020, 2020120474. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202012.0474.v1 Palmer, D.; Elgabiri, M.; Al Buflasa, H.; Thomson, M. Offshore Wind Energy Potential for Bahrain via Multi-criteria Evaluation. Preprints 2020, 2020120474. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202012.0474.v1

Abstract

Current global commitments to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases encourage national targets for renewable generation. Due to its small land mass, offshore wind could help Bahrain to fulfill its obligations. However, no scoping study has yet been carried out. The methodology presented here addresses this research need. It employs Analytical Hierarchy Process and pairwise comparison methods in a Geographical Information Systems environment. Publicly available land use, infrastructure and transport data are used to exclude areas unsuitable for development due to physical and safety constraints. Meteorological and oceanic opportunities are ranked, then competing uses are analyzed to deliver optimal sites for wind farms. The potential annual wind energy yield is calculated by dividing the sum of optimal areas by a suitable turbine footprint, to deliver maximum turbine number. Ten favourable wind farm areas were identified in Bahrain’s territorial waters, representing about 4% of the total maritime area, and capable of supplying 2.68 TWh/yr of wind energy or almost 10% of the Kingdom’s annual electricity consumption. Detailed maps of potential sites for offshore wind construction are provided in the paper, giving an initial plan for installation in these locations.

Keywords

Offshore wind farm siting; Suitability maps; Geographical Information Systems (GIS); Multi-criteria; Analytic hierarchy process (AHP); Offshore wind energy potential.

Subject

Engineering, Energy and Fuel Technology

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