ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIALS OF VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE (VAWT) IN NORTH-EASTERN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, DAMATURU

Abstract

Nigeria faces a persistent energy deficit characterized by an unstable national grid capacity and heavy reliance on fossil fuels. While Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs) dominate commercial wind power globally, their large-scale deployment faces significant constraints, including high capital expenditure for land acquisition, transmission infrastructure, complex directional yaw mechanisms, and ecological threats to local bird populations. Furthermore, HAWTs perform poorly in turbulent, low-altitude urban wind regimes typical of North-Eastern Nigeria. Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) offer a viable technological alternative because they are omnidirectional—capturing wind from any direction without requiring a yaw system—and possess a lower center of gravity, making them well-suited for localized and institutional off-grid applications. However, the localized technical and economic feasibility of fabricating small-scale VAWTs using regional materials remains largely underexplored in Damaturu. This work seeks to design, fabricate, and performance-evaluate a prototype Vertical Axis Wind Turbine within the Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology at The Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu. The outcome will provide empirical wind data, validate local fabrication methodologies, and establish a framework for decentralized renewable energy integration in North-Eastern Nigeria.