Assessment of solar-wind power plants in Afghanistan: A review

The integration of renewable energy sources like wind and solar is very important to combat climate change, also to reduce carbon dioxide in many countries. Afghanistan with low energy consumption has a great potential for using renewable energies., also therefore, this study attempts to find suitable locations for constructing solar-wind power-plants using solar and wind data from 46 stations by HOMER and GIS softwares. Based on the available data, results indicate that Uruzgan and Balk stations, each with $12006 and $13941 respectively, have the lowest and highest net present cost. Also, in terms of using renewable energies (%) and producing CO2 emissions, Qandahar with 99% and 7 kg/yr and Balkh with 87% and 235 kg/yr are respectively the best and the worst stations from an environmental perspective. According to the results, average price per kWh of energy generated in Afghanistan is $0.638, average percentage of using renewables is about 96.46%, and the average rate of producing CO2 emissions is 70.39 kg/yr. The analysis results of turbulence intensity parameter shows that 23 stations in Afghanistan have a low turbulence intensity which means the mechanical components of wind turbines are under low fatigue loads and the rest of stations have a medium turbulence intensity which means the mechanical components of wind turbines are under medium fatigue loads. The highest and lowest values of turbulence intensity parameter are associated with Sindand and Qunduz stations respectively. Given the apparent and urgent need to develop renewable energy sources in Afghanistan, results of the present study, in addition to improving people's lives, could accompany economic development.