Wind speed prediction in some major cities in Africa using Linear Regression and Random Forest algorithms
Keywords:
Energy Generation, Atmospheric Parameters, Statistical Models, Machine Learning Algorithms, African StationsAbstract
Globally, wind energy if properly harnessed, could serve as a source of energy generation in Africa. This study compared the performance of two Machine Learning (ML) algorithms (Linear regression and Random Forest) in predicting wind speed in five major cities in Africa (Yaoundé, Pretoria, Nairobi, Cairo and Abuja). Wind data were collected between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2022, using the Solar Radiation Data Archive. The data preprocessing was carried out with 80% of the data used for training and 20% for validation. The performance of these ML algorithms was evaluated using Mean Square Error (MSE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) and coefficient of determination (R2). The result shows that Nairobi (3.814795 m/s) closely followed by Cairo (3.606453 m/s) has the highest mean wind speed while Yaoundé (1.090512 m/s) has the lowest. Based on the performance metrics used, the two Machine Learning algorithms were competitive. Still, the Linear Regression (LR) algorithm outperformed the Random Forest Algorithm in predicting wind speed in all the selected major African cities. In Yaoundé (RMSE = 0.3892, MAE= 0.3001, MAPE =0.5030), Pretoria (RMSE=1.2339, MAE=0.9480, MAPE=0.7450) Nairobi (RMSE= 0.4223, MAE =0.6499, MAPE =0.1872), Nairobi (RMSE=0.6499, MAE=0.5171, MAPE =0.1872), Cairo (RMSE =1.0909, MAE =0.8544, MAPE =0.3541) and Abuja (RMSE = 0.70245, MAE =0.5441, MAPE= 0.4515) the Linear regression algorithms was found to outperformed Random Forest Regression. Therefore, the Linear regression algorithm is more reliable in predicting wind speed compared with the Random Forest regression.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2024 Timothy Kayode Samson, Francis Olatunbosun Aweda

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
Similar Articles
- Enobong R. Essien, Violette N. Atasie, Ngozi A. Adeleye, Luqman A. Adams, Synthesis and in vitro bioactivity of sodium metasilicate-derived silicon-substituted hydroxyapatite , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 6, Issue 3, August 2024
- Paul Tawo Bukie, Idongesit E. Eteng, Eyo E. Essien, Development of internet of things-based petroleum pipeline topology leak monitoring and detection system using sensors , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 7, Issue 4, November 2025
- J. O. Kuboye, O. F. Quadri, O. R. Elusakin, Solving third order ordinary differential equations directly using hybrid numerical models , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 2, Issue 2, May 2020
- A. S. Halilu, M.A. Mohamed, I. A. R. Moghrabi, K. Ahmed, S. M. Ibrahim, M. Y. Waziri, S. Murtala, H. Abdullahi, M. A. Jada, A modified Dai–Yuan method with restart mechanism for nonlinear system of equations with a signal recovery , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 8, Issue 3, August 2026
- K. N. Babu, S. Meenakshi, Even vertex odd edge root square mean labeling of some cycle-related graphs , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 8, Issue 3, August 2026
- Muhammad Farman, Kottakkaran Sooppy Nisar, Modeling and stability analysis of a fractional-order tuberculosisvmodel with different exposed populations progressing to infection , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 8, Issue 3, August 2026
- Rauf I. Rauf, Ayinde Kayode, Bello A. Hamidu, Bodunwa O. Kikelomo, Alabi O. Olusegun, Enhanced methods for multicollinearity mitigation in stochastic frontier analysis estimation , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 6, Issue 4, November 2024
- Monika Saini, Naveen Kumar, Deepak Sinwar, Ashish Kumar, Availability optimization of bolts manufacturing plant using particle swarm optimization and genetic algorithm , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 6, Issue 4, November 2024
- J. Andrawus, J. Y. Musa, S. Babuba, A. Yusuf, S. Qureshi, U. T. Mustapha, A. Oghenefejiro, I. S. Mamba, Modeling the dynamics of pertussis to assess the influence of timely awareness with optimal control analysis , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 7, Issue 4, November 2025
- Ezra Abba, Zaccheus Shehu, Wilson Lamayi Danbature, Kennedy Poloma Yoriyo, Rifkatu Dogara Kambel , Charles Nsor Ayuk, A Novel developments of ZnO/SiO2 nanocomposite: a nanotechnological approach towards insect vector control , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 3, Issue 3, August 2021
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- F. O. Aweda, J. A. Akinpelu, T. K. Samson, M. Sanni, B. S. Olatinwo, Modeling and Forecasting Selected Meteorological Parameters for the Environmental Awareness in Sub-Sahel West Africa Stations , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 4, Issue 3, August 2022

