Documentation on the current state of harnessing wind energy,

wind potential in Romania

dr. ing. Adriana Sida MANEA

stud.master ing. Laurenţiu MIRCEA
stud. Dušica PAVLOV
“Politehnica” University of Timisoara

1. Abstract

Romania has the greatest potential for wind power in Central and Eastern Europe and could
attract investment in renewable energy from 18.2 billion Euros by 2020, of which 4 billion in farm
windmills. Wind potential of the country exceeds the current installed capacity of 2,000 MW
Romanian and emblem.
Realizing the potential of wind requires much higher investment, because of it’s conditional
ability of transportation and balancing. On the other hand, we can not store energy and therefore we
need an alternative source of coverage in situations where wind is strong enough.
Moldova and Dobrogea regions are considered best for the development of wind farms. In
particular the south-eastern Dobrogea which was called, in more specialized studies, the second
region as a potential in Europe
The national network has an energy potential of 12,000 MW installed in conditions in which
they were granted permits for a further 2200 MW technical.

2. Introduction

A new study of the European Wind Energy Association shows that by 2020, European
Union wind energy industry will double. And that the European wind energy industry will reach
330,000 jobs. Because of the need for states to foster economic growth, more companies will invest
in this area.
Wind energy has the capacity to sustainably meet the growing demand for electricity.
However, this segment proves to be an undeniable stimulus for the economies of states.
Today, on the other hand, in the context of the new energy and economic situation of
mankind's attention is directed toward new energy sources, renewable energy: solar, geothermal,
wave and wind power. Reasons which led to the search for new sources energies are not those of
the ancient time. Today energy offered by nuclear plants and coal-fired today provides 2/3 of world
electricity, but are still responsible for adverse effects on environment (greenhouse effect, acid rain,
etc.).
3. Romania's national recovery program of wind energy

In particular, a more extensive and widespread use of solar and wind energy presents many
advantages to the nature of technique (safe energy source compared to natural ecosystems creating
very low environmental impacts, with a possible high overall efficiency, simplicity of construction
and during plant) and economic (low financial investment, operation and maintenance costs
relatively low)
The Directive 2001/77/EC, of September 27, 2001, on promotion of electricity produced
from renewable energy in the single market, has established a strategic objective on the contribution
of renewables in total primary energy consumption, which might reach 11% in 2010. White Book
estimates that by 2010, this will create between 500,000 and 900,000 new jobs by implementing the
SRE. The White Book also predicts an estimated reduction of CO2 emissions, according to the
scenario to be achieved by 2010 for EU countries, such as:
Tab.1.
Type of energy Additional capacity Reducing CO2
(million tones / year)
1. Wind 36 GW 72
2. Hydro 13 GW 48
3. Photovoltaic 3 GWp 3
4. Biomass 90 Mtep 255
5. Geothermal (heat pump ) 2.5 GW 5
6. Solar Collectors 94 mil m2 19
Total for EU market 402

In terms of installed power growth, Europe strengthens its position in wind energy, which
caused a grouth of 39% per year between 1998 to 2003. Moreover, wind energy world market could
be worth over 27 billion annually by 2010. Based on the evaluation and interpretation of the data
recorded, in Romania, wind energy potential is most favorable to the Black Sea, in mountain areas
and highlands in Moldova and Dobrogea. Also, favorable locations have been identified in regions
with relatively good wind potential, if they are to the effect of energy exploitation flow over hilly
peaks, and drainage of draft.
Despite the successes achieved in developing technology for energy production from
renewable energy sources, cost of electricity from these resources is still higher than the cost of
electricity generated by burning fossil fuels.
The cost of electricity generated from renewable resources would be less than the energy of
the network if indirect costs (such as environmental remediation, medical costs, costs of security of
energy) generated in the production of electricity by burning fossil fuels should be included in unit
cost of electricity. Utilization of renewable energy has improved in recent years, benefiting many
countries direct support from their governments. Although it is risky to make scientific predictions,
leading institutions believe that renewable energy will play an important role in the world of
tomorrow, since the decade of the third millennium. In a scenario developed by a European
company specialized in conventional energy, the intake will flatten from the years 2020-2030,
Instead the contribution of renewable will continue to grow and therefore cover the years 2040-
2050 over 30 to 50% of the world energy.
4. Using wind energy in Romania. Wind regime in Romania

In Romania, the wind regime is determined by both the atmospheric general circulation
features (different systems Baric which crosses) and the active surface features. It emphasizes the
role of the orographic barrier of the Carpathians, which determines certain regional peculiarities of
wind .The average speed is directly influenced by the orographic and thermal stratification of air; in
Dobrogea the average speed (4 to 5 m/s) direction is:
N, NV, NE 43.8 %
S, SE 30.4%
Areas of interest for the territory of Romania are: Zone Dobrogea, Zone Banat and Moldova
Plateau. This paper is the analyzed Dobrogea region.
The establishment of these areas was initially based on the fact that all are located in sub-
favorable, wind potential appropriate forms of relief: the hills and plateaus, mountainous coastline,
along with great plains (with wind speeds exceeding 6.7 m/s), according to data contained in the
wind map of Romania:

Fig.1. Wind potential in Romania

The Danube Delta is located parallel to the maintenance of 450 North latitude and the
meridian of longitude 290 east. Including areas surrounding the places where its sides, Delta covers
an area of 5640 km2 of which 4470 km2 is our country’s territory.
The entire delta is presented as an almost flat plain, sloping gently toward the east, having
an extremely low slope of only 0.006%, vegetation consisting mainly of rush forming brush and
willows.
Monthly averages of air temperature ranges as follows: June 220C, 24.40 C in July, August,
250C, and water as follows: June 20.20 C in July and August 22.40 C, 21.80C.
 Fig.2. Wind potential in Dobrogea

An important factor it’s the climate and wind. At the Black Sea, the wind is moving in
counter-clockwise, as it happens around any other depressions in the northern hemisphere. From
meteorological data collected the Sulina site height h = 10 m above the ground have built a
Cumulative curve also being the first graphic correction:

Fig. 3. Cumulative curve

The frequency curve was constructed to heights of 10, 30, 40m, high, velocities that were
calculated by the relationship:
α
h 
Vh = V10 ⋅  
 10  (1)

V10 = velocity measured at h = 10m

h10 = reference height at which Meteorological measurements were made
h = any type of height
Vh = speed at height h
 h=10m
h=30m

1000 h=40m

900
800
700
f [hours/year]

600
500
400
300
200
100
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 V[m/s]
Fig.4. Frequency curve was constructed to heights of 10, 30, 40 m.

On the relationship:
Ec ρ 3 KWh
Ecu = = ⋅ V ⋅ ∆t (2)
S 2 an ⋅ m 2

This equation was needed to build the cumulative curve per kinetic energy unit, fig.5.

h=10 m
8000 h=30m
h=40m
7000

6000
Ecu [KWh/year m 2]

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0
0 Fig.5.
10 The cumulative
20 curve kinetic
30 energy40
unit 50 v[m/s]
 3 o
1
These charts are a result of the calculations for the air density ρ = 1.151 kg/m at t = 30 C.
cu 1
We constructed the curve of frequency of kinetic energy per unit E with ρ = ρ and the curve of
eu 1
frequency of electrical energy per unit E with ρ = ρ , for h = 10, 30 and 40 m.

cu ρ 1
Fig.6.The curve of frequency of kinetic energy per unit E

cu ρ 1
Fig.7.The curve of frequency of electrical energy per unit E
 3 0
2
To the properly ρ = 1.342 kg/m and temperature T =-10 C using the relationship:

1.342
E cu ρ = Ecu ρ
2
1.151 1 (3)

cu 2
On which we built the frequency curve of kinetic energy per unit E for ρ = ρ and the frequency
cu 2
curve of electrical energy per unit E for ρ = ρ , for h = 10, 30, 40 m.

cu 2
Fig.8. The curve of frequency of kinetic energy per unit E ρ
 cu 2
Fig.9. The curve of frequency of electrical energy per unit E ρ
5. Conclusions:

It is noted that for h=40m recorded the highest frequency for speeds of 10 to 12 m/s and a
good frequency for v = 13 to 20 m/s.
Also, for a constant speed, Ecu and Eeu increases with increasing air density and decreases
with decreasing height above the ground.
On these grounds it can be concluded that the maximum energy you can get comes to
heights of 40 m.
Because air density ρ = 1.151 appropriate warm period is predominant, all subsequent
calculations will be conducted for ρ = 1.151 kg/m3 and h = 4m without study compared the heights
of 10 and 30 m.

6. Aknowledgement

This paper was possible trough the CNCSIS Grant IDEI cod 929/2008 nr. 679/2009 director
dr. ing. Adriana Sida MANEA.

8. Bibliography

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romania (solar, vânt, biomasă, microhidro, geotermie), identificarea celor mai bune locaţii pentru
dezvoltarea investiţiilor în producerea de energie electrică neconvenţională***, Sinteză
5. A.S. Bugarschi, C.D. Galeriu, La simulation des sillages des agregats eoliens sur des modeles
statiques des simulation, Buletinul stiintific si tehnic al Universitatii Politehnica din Timisoara,
Tom 41(55), Mecanica, Timisoara, 1996.