Determining Wind Energy Potential Using Geographic Information System Functions: A Case Study in Balıkesir, Turkey

With developing technology, energy consumption and requirements are steadily rising. Wind energy emerges as an indispensable energy source in the world, where energy requirements are increasing gradually due to important features such as being renewable, sustainable, easily accessible, and environmentally friendly. In recent years, wind energy investments in Turkey have increased significantly, in line with the rest of the world. In recent decades, a significant number of investors have performed investment studies in this area. In this study, the wind energy potential of the Balıkesir Province in Turkey was calculated using geographical information system (GIS) functions. A wind speed map was created by using wind speed data measured at a 10 m altitude at 32 meteorological stations. The wind speeds were extrapolated to 100 m considering the land cover data, and a wind speed map of the Balıkesir Province was created using GIS functions. An equation was produced to calculate the number of turbines that can be placed in a certain area depending on the national regulation, which is also the novelty of this study. By using this equation, the wind energy potential values of the Balıkesir Province and its districts were obtained according to varying wind speed ranges. The results obtained in this study were compared with the wind energy potential atlas of Turkey (REPA).