Dynamic Exergy Performance Assessment of a 1-MW Wind Power Plant Under Diverse Climatic Conditions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student, School of Energy Engineering and Sustainable Resources, College of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor, School of Energy Engineering and Sustainable Resources, College of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 M.Sc. Student, School of Energy Engineering and Sustainable Resources, College of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

4 Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Faculty, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran

5 CEO, Jam Petrochemical Company, Asaluyeh, Iran

6 Professor, School of Energy Engineering and Sustainable Resources, College of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

In this study, the performance of a 1-MW wind power plant in Iran is evaluated using an integrated transient–thermodynamic simulation framework. To cover the country’s climatic diversity, four cities, including Chabahar, Ardabil, Rasht, and Shiraz, were selected as representative sites. The turbine model was implemented in TRNSYS, and the hourly power output was simulated. Based on the time-series results, first-law indicators, including electrical energy production and capacity factor, and second-law indicators, including exergy efficiency, exergy destruction, and the sustainability index, were calculated and compared on a monthly and annual basis. The annual results showed that the highest energy production was obtained for Ardabil at approximately 1559.7 MWh with a capacity factor of 17.99%, followed by Chabahar at approximately 1532.9 MWh with a capacity factor of 17.68%; whereas Rasht and Shiraz exhibited annual productions of approximately 1010.4 and 882.2 MWh with capacity factors of 11.65% and 10.17%, respectively. From the second-law perspective, the highest exergy efficiency was observed in Ardabil (68.23%), and the lowest in Chabahar (63.25%). The sustainability index also reflected the same pattern (maximum 3.14 in Ardabil and minimum 2.72 in Chabahar). In addition, the highest annual exergy destruction was reported for Chabahar (about 890.8 MWh), which, given the level of energy/exergy input, highlights the need to interpret exergy destruction and exergy efficiency simultaneously. Overall, site rankings based on energy- and exergy-based indicators are not necessarily aligned, and an integrated assessment can provide a more reliable basis for siting and decision-making for wind power development across Iran’s diverse climates.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of sustainable Energy Systems
Volume 5, Issue 3
July 2026
Pages 627-645

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