Wind energy project planned in Syria

Syria is planning to launch wind energy projects to generate electricity in light of increasing needs to alternative energies and expectations of a big growth in marketing this production in neighbouring countries, a report by SANA said. "The project has far reaching goals through the establishment of new job opportunities and its positive effect on the social and economic level, " the report said. It noted that it would increase the development of national personnel and contribute towards investing in "clean wind energy" as well decreasing Carbon emissions, in addition to other materials with the aim of keeping environment and humans healthy.

"It aims at making profits to back the national economy by promoting energy production locally and abroad as well causing a cut in oil and gas consumption in the process of generating electricity. It will build personnel to manage this operation," an expert at the ministry of electricity said. Syria started investing in wind energy in the 1950s, when some expatriates from South America brought wind energy technology back for purposes of pumping water. At the time some 4000 windmills were manufactured and installed in central Syria region including Homs, North Damascus and Qalmoum near Damascus.

In 1979 a solar wind energy station was built by the Ministry of Electricity in Adra near Damascus and in 1984 the Directorate of Research at the Ministry issued a primary evaluation of wind energy in Syria in cooperation with the UNDP. A wind map of Syria was formulated in 1994, based on the input of data originating 60 wind stations. A compound to generate wind electricity was built at al-Baath city in Quneitra, southwest of Damascus, which is linked with the central electricity grid in Syria.

Electricity experts said that a feasibility study has been prepared to build a wind farm in the Homs Governorate and a general plan to develop and upgrade the usage of the renewable energy is currently being formulated. The Ministry of Electricity is now drafting a law to build a national centre for energy studies and research.