Hybrid wind-solar energy potential modeling using ERA5 and solar irradiation data in google Earth Engine

Renewable energies play a significant role in mitigating the climate change impacts. Wind and solar energy are projected to supply larger amount to the total renewable energy capacity of many nations. Long-term wind and solar data availability and analysis is vital for sustainable renewable energy farming. In this research, we analyze wind speed u- and v-components at 10 m height of the ERA5 daily reanalysis aggregates at a mesh of 31 Km during a long period (2010–2020) over the Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez coasts of Egypt. Google Earth Engine (GEE) code is developed and used for the analysis. The prime objective is to derive estimates on the spatio-temporal variability of speed, direction, and the wind energy estimates in the area. Further, the solar energy potential has been evaluated using reference data of the PVOUT – Photovoltaic power potential (kWh/m2/day) data, at nearly 1 km resolution, which is normalized at the evaluated sites, and then used to rank sites with their solar energy potential. Evaluation of estimates is carried out at selected thirteen sites distributed along the coasts to better understand the hybrid wind-solar energy potential. Frequency analysis is carried out to the wind speed spatial estimates to demarcate highest frequency wind events potential for wind farming. Reference in-situ wind speed observations available at daily and monthly time scales for Hurghada weather station is used for investigating the reanalysis data performance. The Hurghada site had the highest average wind speed (6.7 m s−1), frequency of events (75 %), and mean daily (60.4 kWh) and annual (22.02 MWh) wind energy. The windiest time intervals were the September month, 2017 year, and the summer season. The north had wind energy directions of 130°, while the south had 110°. Trend analysis showed declining trends for northern locations and rising yearly wind speed estimates for Berenice (0.005) and Halayeb (0.002). El-Tor location had the highest solar energy output, with a daily mean of 5.52 kWh/m2 and an annual mean of almost 2015 kWh/m2. The Hurghada, Jemsa, G. Zeit, and El-Tor sites achieved the highest rankings in terms of hybrid wind-solar energy potential. The results can be very valuable for optimal location of hybrid solar-wind energy facilities and provide viable and promising solutions for sustainably meeting Egypt's growing clean energy demands.