A comparative assessment of five different distributions based on five different optimization methods for modeling wind speed distribution

Abstract

Determining wind regime distribution patterns is essential for many reasons; modelling wind power potential is one of the most crucial. In that regard, Weibull, Gamma, and Rayleigh functions are the most widely used distributions for describing wind speed distribution. However, they could not be the best for describing all wind systems. Also, estimation methods play a significant role in deciding which distribution can achieve the best matching. Consequently, alternative distributions and estimation methods are required to be studied. An extensive analysis of five different distributions to describe the wind speeds distribution, namely Rayleigh, Weibull, Inverse Gaussian, Burr Type XII, and Generalized Pareto, are introduced in this study. Further, five metaheuristic optimization methods, Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm, Grey Wolf Optimization, Moth-Flame Optimization, Salp Swarm Algorithm, and Whale Optimization Algorithm, are employed to specify the optimum parameters per distribution. Five error criteria and seven statistical descriptors are utilized to compare the good-of-fitness of the introduced distributions. Therefore, this paper provides different important methods to estimate the wind potential at any site.