The Energy Complex of Wind and Thermal Power Plants: Development in Iraq

The power system of Iraq aims to integrate all energy sources such as thermal power plants and renewable energy sources including wind energy. Wind speed data for 2022 in five locations were obtaied to calculate the wind energy potential of Iraq in the first part of the study. The selected locations were used to plot the graph of the regional distribution of average wind speed in Iraq. Four regions were identified according to the level of wind energy potential. Statistical analysis including wind flow power calculation was performed for each location. The second part of the study considered an energy complex including wind power plants and natural gas-fired thermal power plants. To develop such a complex, it is necessary that the maximum energy consumption is covered taking into account the unstable operating modes of wind power plants. The results show the technical feasibility in terms of flexibility and cost-effectiveness of such an energy complex.