Climatological Wind Study for Determining the Location of Wind Power Plants (PLTB) in Maluku Province and East Nusa Tenggara Province
Written by: Sri Asriyanti, Putri Andhira and Halmar Halide
Renewable energy has become a primary focus in global efforts to reduce the impact of climate change. Wind Power Plants (PLTB) are one of the sustainable solutions that harness wind energy to generate electricity. One of the key factors in determining the optimal location for a PLTB is wind speed analysis, which is influenced by climatological phenomena such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Therefore, this study analyzes wind speed in Maluku Province and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) using wind speed data, u-wind, and v-wind to determine the optimal locations for PLTB development.
This study aims to analyze the potential of wind energy as an alternative electricity source and to determine optimal and strategic locations for PLTB development based on wind climatological analysis in Maluku and NTT Provinces. The data used includes east-west wind speed (u-wind) and north-south wind speed (v-wind) from 1991 to 2020, obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The analysis was conducted using composite analysis and tabulation methods to evaluate wind speed across the three ENSO phases (El Niño, Neutral, and La Niña). The analysis identified suitable locations based on wind speed levels:
- In Maluku Province, the highest wind speed was found in Southwest Maluku, making it the optimal choice for PLTB development across all three ENSO phases.
- In East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province, the highest wind speed was found in Southwest Sumba, making it the optimal choice for PLTB development across all three ENSO phases.
This study highlights the importance of analyzing wind speed as a key factor in selecting suitable locations for PLTB. The results provide recommendations for establishing PLTBs in Southwest Maluku for Maluku Province and Southwest Sumba for East Nusa Tenggara Province, ensuring optimal observation quality.
Keywords: Wind Speed, Wind Power Plant (PLTB), ENSO
