Umudike Journal of Engineering and Technology

The economics of wind energy viability for electricity generation in Calabar, Nigeria is considered in this study. Also, presented was the avoidable CO₂ emissions, and diesel saved for utilizing wind energy. Wind characteristics were considered using the two way Wilbur parameter with wind data obtained from 1987 to 2007. The yearly average Weibull parameters k and c obtained ranged between 1.656 ≤ k ≤ 2.028 and  4.452 ≤ c ≤ 6.447 m/s while the power density (PD) and annual energy (AE) were between 119.83 ≤ PD ≤ 177.76 W/m²/year and 1048.77 ≤ AE ≤ 1554.75 kWh/m²/year at 10 and 30 m respectively. The lowest cost per kWh of energy was achieved using WECS-4/500 kW that varies from 0.0201 to 0.0459 $/kWh for the three specific cost of WECS.  Payback period (PBP) and Benefits cost ratio (BCR) analysis indicate all the considered WECSs were economically feasible for installation. Conversely, WECS-4/500 kW was nominated for Calabar, due to low PBP of 5.05 years with highest BCR of 1.345.