Multi-criteria prioritization of the wind sites.

Taking into account the statistical report on 44 years of activities of Iran electric power industry (1967–2010), the present situation of wind power as a renewable source for electricity production is reviewed. Also, based on Iran wind atlas new wind sites (81 sites) are evaluated as a case study. In this paper a multi-criteria method is proposed to prioritize wind sites. Firstly, the sites with grid connected operation capability (with mean speed above 5 m/s) are determined and included in this study. Secondly, using the yearly wind speed data of the sites, the parameters of the Weibull probability distribution function are calculated. Then, based on the power curve of the conventional wind turbines and using Analytical Hierarchical Process methodology and choosing a set of criteria, the sites are prioritized. Finally, the coincidence between the Weibull wind speed frequencies and observed frequencies are investigated for the wind sites with the maximum and minimum overall weights. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]