Wind-powered electric water-pumping system installed in a remote location

In December 1996, the country's first wind-powered, electric water-pumping system was successfully installed at the Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) Heelat Ar Rakah Camp, a remote location some 900 kilometres south of Muscat, the capital city of Oman. A weather-monitoring station comprising temperature, wind speed/direction, humidity and barometric pressure equipment was also installed to investigate the relationship between weather conditions and power output. Both systems are still in operation and are providing valuable data for analysis. This paper investigates the pump's output at different wind speeds and monthly water output against average wind velocity and compares the results with the design output values provided by the system manufacturer. Problems encountered in meeting the irrigation requirements at the camp during periods of low wind are discussed and solutions proposed. The potential of utilizing surplus energy generated during periods of high wind is under investigation. The paper concludes by assessing and analysing the role of wind power amongst other renewable energy sources, in the abstraction and desalination of groundwater supplies. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.