Probabilistic Analysis of Solar and Wind Energy Potentials at Geographically Diverse Locations for Sustainable Renewable Integration

The use of conventional fuel sources from the Earth to generate electrical power leads to several environmental issues such as carbon emissions and ozone depletion. Energy generation from renewable energy sources is one of the most affordable and cleanest techniques. However, the generation of power from non-conventional sources like solar and wind requires the examination of established locations where these resources are plentiful and easily accessible. In this study, an investigation of solar and wind is performed at five different sites in various locations in India. For this examination, data on solar irradiance (Wm2) and wind speed (ms) is taken from the “NASA POWER DAV v.2.5.22” Data Access Viewer created by NASA. The data for solar and wind was taken at hourly intervals. The period of the investigation was ten years, i.e., from January 2014 to December 2023. The solar and wind potential analysis was performed in a probabilistic way to determine the parameters that support the installation of solar–PV panels and wind energy generators at the examined sites for the generation of power from these spontaneously available sources, respectively. To examine the potential of solar and wind sites, the Beta and Weibull probability distribution function (PDF) was used. The parameter estimation of the Beta and Weibull PDF was performed via the Maximum Likelihood method. The chosen method is known for its accuracy and efficiency in handling large datasets. Some key performance prediction indicators were analyzed for the investigated solar and wind locations. The findings provide valuable insights that support renewable energy planning and the optimal design of hybrid power systems.