WindAiza: A Practical Guide for Hybrid Microgrid Simulation in Island Communities

In a world where energy security and climate resilience are more important than ever, island communities face some of the greatest challenges - and opportunities - in transitioning to clean, reliable, and affordable energy systems. WindAiza emerges as a transformative digital platform tailored specifically to meet these needs. This book is a comprehensive, hands-on guide to WindAiza, a next-generation software solution that empowers planners, engineers, and researchers to simulate and optimize hybrid microgrids with precision. Through real-world datasets, AI-enhanced analytics, and powerful statistical models, WindAiza enables seamless integration of wind energy, solar power, storage, and demand profiles - all within a user-friendly environment. Readers will learn to assess wind resources using high-resolution open-access data, apply Weibull distribution fitting, analyze wind roses, examine turbulence and seasonal profiles, and forecast power output. The book also walks through turbine selection based on IEC wind classes, demand profiling from appliances, energy balancing, and battery capacity estimation. A full simulation suite helps model hybrid microgrids tailored to local needs, supported by compelling visual analytics and case studies. Focusing on Beqa Island (Fiji) and similar off-grid regions, this guide shows how WindAiza can bridge the gap between raw environmental data and resilient microgrid design. With an emphasis on modularity, scientific rigor, and accessibility, the book supports practitioners and academics alike in driving sustainable development through practical tools. Whether you're a student, energy planner, researcher, or policy developer, this guide will equip you with the methodology, insights, and platform to design smart hybrid microgrids in even the most remote settings.