IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i19p11933-d921471.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Spatial Mapping of Jamaica’s High-Resolution Wind Atlas: An Environmental-Sociotechnical Account

Author

Listed:
  • Delmaria Richards

    (Graduate School of Science, Technology, Information Sciences, Tsukuba University, 1-1-1, Tennodai, Tsukuba City 305-8577, Japan)

  • Helmut Yabar

    (Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Tsukuba University, 1-1-1, Tennodai, Tsukuba City 305-8577, Japan)

  • Takeshi Mizunoya

    (Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Tsukuba University, 1-1-1, Tennodai, Tsukuba City 305-8577, Japan)

Abstract

To utilize wind energy, how it works, its value, and where the best locations are for extrapolation must be understood. A high-resolution wind atlas of Jamaica aids the understanding of the sociophysical phenomena leading to a better understanding of wind energy on the island. This study incorporates a mesoscale method with eight years of relevant data in ArcGIS 10.8.1 to derive then indicate sites for potential onshore wind power plants (WPP). It uses secondary and real-time data from domestic and international sources to evaluate economic, environmental, and sociotechnical criteria. The results indicate a high possibility for future wind power (WP) generation expansion since 2867.15 km 2 , 26% of the land is available. With the installation of Vestas V80 turbines, 62,818.71 GWh/year can be generated. Conversely, Vestas V112 turbine installation can produce 56,321.74 GWh/year of electrical energy. The average speed goes up to 12.5 miles per hour, while the power density of the 10% windiest areas is between 156.60 and 768.37 W/m 2 at 50 m above ground, with several parishes having appropriate locations for WPPs. Thus, 29-point sites are identified in the study. However, St. Elizabeth and Manchester are most favorable, with mean wind speeds of 8.26 m/s and 10.08 m/s, respectively, in the excellently suitable zones. The research offers several advantages, which encompass the quantification of wind potential with and without prohibition, assessment of wind suitability on the island of Jamaica, reduction in environmental damage, and available data amelioration to aid better energy policy decisions, which will ensure a faster and easier transition from fossil fuel (FF) to renewable energy (RE) to meet Jamaica’s 2030 50% RE generation target. Specifically, the atlases will assist policymakers and WP developers in making informed decisions by reducing costs, time, and ambiguities to enhance the development of renewable energy use for electrical energy in Jamaica. The Geographical Information System (GIS), which is one of the most popular energy assessment tools, was utilized to derive suitable land zones of 24.41 to 26% for onshore wind farm development in Jamaica. It incorporates environmental, economic, social, safety, and technical criteria with underlining categorical variables as indicators to derive the quantitative values appropriate for Jamaica’s landscape and comparable to international studies with similar objectives. It found that unrestricted areas can theoretically generate up to 62,818 GWh per year of electrical energy.

Suggested Citation

  • Delmaria Richards & Helmut Yabar & Takeshi Mizunoya, 2022. "Spatial Mapping of Jamaica’s High-Resolution Wind Atlas: An Environmental-Sociotechnical Account," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-25, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:11933-:d:921471
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/19/11933/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/19/11933/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Costoya, X. & deCastro, M. & Santos, F. & Sousa, M.C. & Gómez-Gesteira, M., 2019. "Projections of wind energy resources in the Caribbean for the 21st century," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 356-367.
    2. Xu, Jiuping & Liu, Tingting, 2020. "Technological paradigm-based approaches towards challenges and policy shifts for sustainable wind energy development," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    3. Delmaria Richards & Helmut Yabar, 2022. "Potential of Renewable Energy in Jamaica’s Power Sector: Feasibility Analysis of Biogas Production for Electricity Generation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-19, May.
    4. Siyal, Shahid Hussain & Mörtberg, Ulla & Mentis, Dimitris & Welsch, Manuel & Babelon, Ian & Howells, Mark, 2015. "Wind energy assessment considering geographic and environmental restrictions in Sweden: A GIS-based approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 447-461.
    5. Rodman, Laura C. & Meentemeyer, Ross K., 2006. "A geographic analysis of wind turbine placement in Northern California," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(15), pages 2137-2149, October.
    6. Wright, Raymond M, 2001. "Wind energy development in the Caribbean," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 24(3), pages 439-444.
    7. Cevallos-Sierra, Jaime & Ramos-Martin, Jesús, 2018. "Spatial assessment of the potential of renewable energy: The case of Ecuador," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 1154-1165.
    8. Enevoldsen, Peter, 2018. "A socio-technical framework for examining the consequences of deforestation: A case study of wind project development in Northern Europe," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 138-147.
    9. Chen, A.A. & Stephens, A.J. & Koon Koon, R. & Ashtine, M. & Mohammed-Koon Koon, K, 2020. "Pathways to climate change mitigation and stable energy by 100% renewable for a small island: Jamaica as an example," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Baseer, M.A. & Rehman, S. & Meyer, J.P. & Alam, Md. Mahbub, 2017. "GIS-based site suitability analysis for wind farm development in Saudi Arabia," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 1166-1176.
    2. Jangid, Jayant & Bera, Apurba Kumar & Joseph, Manoj & Singh, Vishal & Singh, T.P. & Pradhan, B.K. & Das, Sandipan, 2016. "Potential zones identification for harvesting wind energy resources in desert region of India – A multi criteria evaluation approach using remote sensing and GIS," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 1-10.
    3. Atkinson, Travis & Preckel, Paul V. & Gotham, Douglas, 2022. "Costs and trade-offs associated with renewable energy policies for Small Island Developing States: Case study for Jamaica," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    4. Xu, Bin & Lin, Boqiang, 2018. "Do we really understand the development of China's new energy industry?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 733-745.
    5. Sajid Ali & Sang-Moon Lee & Choon-Man Jang, 2017. "Determination of the Most Optimal On-Shore Wind Farm Site Location Using a GIS-MCDM Methodology: Evaluating the Case of South Korea," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-22, December.
    6. James Griffiths & William Dushenko, 2011. "Effectiveness of GIS suitability mapping in predicting ecological impacts of proposed wind farm development on Aristazabal Island, BC," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 13(6), pages 957-991, December.
    7. Martínez-Martínez, Yenisleidy & Dewulf, Jo & Casas-Ledón, Yannay, 2022. "GIS-based site suitability analysis and ecosystem services approach for supporting renewable energy development in south-central Chile," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 363-376.
    8. Aleksandr Kulikov & Pavel Ilyushin & Anton Loskutov & Konstantin Suslov & Sergey Filippov, 2022. "WSPRT Methods for Improving Power System Automation Devices in the Conditions of Distributed Generation Sources Operation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-20, November.
    9. Pacheco, A. & Monteiro, J. & Santos, J. & Sequeira, C. & Nunes, J., 2022. "Energy transition process and community engagement on geographic islands: The case of Culatra Island (Ria Formosa, Portugal)," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 700-711.
    10. Ali, Shahid & Taweekun, Juntakan & Techato, Kuaanan & Waewsak, Jompob & Gyawali, Saroj, 2019. "GIS based site suitability assessment for wind and solar farms in Songkhla, Thailand," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 1360-1372.
    11. Gorsevski, Pece V. & Cathcart, Steven C. & Mirzaei, Golrokh & Jamali, Mohsin M. & Ye, Xinyue & Gomezdelcampo, Enrique, 2013. "A group-based spatial decision support system for wind farm site selection in Northwest Ohio," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 374-385.
    12. Pere Ariza-Montobbio & Susana Herrero Olarte, 2021. "Socio-metabolic profiles of electricity consumption along the rural–urban continuum of Ecuador: Whose energy sovereignty?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 7961-7995, May.
    13. Zhang, Shuangyi & Li, Xichen, 2021. "Future projections of offshore wind energy resources in China using CMIP6 simulations and a deep learning-based downscaling method," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    14. Defne, Zafer & Haas, Kevin A. & Fritz, Hermann M., 2011. "GIS based multi-criteria assessment of tidal stream power potential: A case study for Georgia, USA," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(5), pages 2310-2321, June.
    15. Sofia Spyridonidou & Dimitra G. Vagiona, 2020. "Systematic Review of Site-Selection Processes in Onshore and Offshore Wind Energy Research," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-26, November.
    16. Dröes, Martijn I. & Koster, Hans R.A., 2021. "Wind turbines, solar farms, and house prices," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    17. Sahu, Bikash Kumar & Hiloidhari, Moonmoon & Baruah, D.C., 2013. "Global trend in wind power with special focus on the top five wind power producing countries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 348-359.
    18. Bosch, Jonathan & Staffell, Iain & Hawkes, Adam D., 2017. "Temporally-explicit and spatially-resolved global onshore wind energy potentials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 207-217.
    19. Shafiullah, Md & Rahman, Syed Masiur & Mortoja, Md. Golam & Al-Ramadan, Baqer, 2016. "Role of spatial analysis technology in power system industry: An overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 584-595.
    20. Jerez, S. & Thais, F. & Tobin, I. & Wild, M. & Colette, A. & Yiou, P. & Vautard, R., 2015. "The CLIMIX model: A tool to create and evaluate spatially-resolved scenarios of photovoltaic and wind power development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 1-15.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:11933-:d:921471. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.