Abstract:
This PhD thesis investigates the potential for wind energy development in Burundi, a landlocked country in East-Central Africa with a population of about 13 million. Despite its rich landscapes and growing population, Burundi faces significant energy challenges, characterized by an outdated and geographically concentrated power grid that leaves many regions without access to the national grid. This study aims to evaluate the current state of energy accessibility in Burundi, explore the relationship between electricity access and sustainable development, and assess the feasibility of wind energy as a viable solution. The research collected wind data from four sites—Gitega, Gisozi, Mpota-Tora, and Bujumbura— spanning up to 15 years, and employed various statistical probability distribution functions (PDFs) to model the wind speed data. The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model was utilized to simulate important meteorological variables and generate high-resolution seasonal and annual mean wind maps. The optimal sites for wind farms were pinpointed utilizing the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP), a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach. This method considered crucial variables such as wind speed, slope, proximity to the grid network, and land use/land cover (LULC). The study also included a comprehensive techno-economic analysis of three wind turbine models, assessing their annual power generation and energy costs. Key results indicate that the Burr distribution effectively models wind speed data, with Bujumbura showing substantial potential for wind energy harvesting. The WRF model proved highly accurate, highlighting the western region of Burundi, particularly around Lake Tanganyika, as favorable for wind farm development. Approximately 20.91% of the study area is suitable for wind farms, with 1.96% identified as highly suitable. The techno-economic analysis identified the 500kW wind turbine (E-58/10.58) as the most cost-effective option. These findings underscore the economic viability of wind farms and provide strategic insights for enhancing Burundi's energy infrastructure through renewable sources, recommending the prioritization of regions with high wind potential for future energy projects.
