In this study, the effectiveness of seven numerical methods is evaluated to determine the shape (K) and scale (C) parameters of Weibull distribution function for the purpose of calculating the wind speed characteristics and wind power density. The selected methods are graphical method (GPM), empirical method of Justus (EMJ), empirical method of Lysen (EML), energy pattern factor method (EPFM), maximum likelihood method (MLM) moment method (MOM) and the proposed. Hybrid method (HM) derived from EPFM and EMJ. The purpose is to identify the most appropriate method for computing the mean wind speed, wind speed standard deviation and wind power density for different costal locations in West Africa. Three costal sites (Lomé, Accra and Cotonou) are selected. The input data was collected, from January 2004 to December 2015 for Lomé site, from January 2009 to December 2015 for Accra site and from January 2009 to December 2012 for Cotonou. The results indicate that the precision of the computed mean wind speed, wind speed standard deviation and wind power density values change when different parameters estimation methods are used. Five of them which are EMJ, EML, EPF, MOM, ML, and HM method present very good accuracy while GPM shows weak ability for all three sites.

This work presents the characterization and assessment of wind energy potential in annual and monthly levels of the sites of Lomé, Accra and Cotonou located in the Gulf of Guinea, and the optimal characteristics of wind turbines to be installed on these sites. Studies of characterization and the wind potential of these sites from the wind speed data collected over a period of thirteen years at a height of 10 meters above the ground, show an annual average speed of 3.52 m/s for Lomé, 3.99 m/s for Cotonou and 4.16 m/s for Accra. These studies also showed that a monthly average speed exceeding 4 m/s was observed on the sites of Cotonou and Accra during the months of February, March, April, July, August and September and during the months of July, August and September on the site of Lomé. After a series of simulation conducted using the software named PotEol that we have developed in Scilab, we have retained that the wind turbines rated speeds of ~8 to 9 m/s at the sites of Lomé and Cotonou and ~ 9 to 10 m/s on the site of Accra would be the most appropriate speeds for optimal exploitation of electric energy from wind farms at a height of 50 m above the ground.Article History: Received May 26th 2016; Received in revised form August 24th 2016; Accepted August 30th 2016; Available onlineHow to Cite This Article: Salami, A.A., Ajavon, A.S.A , Kodjo, M.K. and Bédja, K. (2016) Evaluation of Wind Potential for an Optimum Choice of Wind Turbine Generator on the Sites of Lomé, Accra, and Cotonou Located in the Gulf of Guinea. Int. Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 5(3), 211-223.http://dx.doi.org/10.14710/ijred.5.3.211-223