(Wind energy in the Central and southern region of Iraq and determining the optimum location using GIs)

Abstract

           Wind is defined as the air in motion, this motion can generate enormous energy that we can use to generate electrical energy. It is among the most intensive and widely used renewable energy resources in the world. The use of wind energy has extended to include regional countries of Iraq such as Jordan, Egypt, UAE and Saudi Arabia. These countries have made significant strides in investing in wind energy along with the economic savings achieved from it, especially in the matter of fuel used in power plants. By delving into our research (wind energy in the Central and southern region of Iraq and determining the optimum location using GIs), we noticed that the highest annual rate of wind energy in the southern region was in the governorate of (Muthanna) in the Salman area, which amounted to (6.5) m²/s. As for the amount of available wind energy in the southern region, it amounted to (40-193 W/m2/s.), which are ideal quantities for using wind energy economically. In general, the total energy in the study area was (52445820150) W/m²/s which is equivalent to 52445.82 MW, which can fill a large amount of the deficit by supplying electrical energy in the region. Therefore, through the application of the energy quantity equation and the use of GIS, it was found that the optimal location for investing wind energy is located in Al-Salman area in Al-Muthanna governorate, followed by shbaki in Al-Najaf than Al-Hayy area in Wasit and then Ain Al-Tamr in Karbala, not to mention the rest of the other areas involved in the research.