Israel - New solar and wind energy projects planned

Israel is taking steps toward getting more energy from renewable sources with new solar energy systems in Judea and a wind turbine to be installed Monday. The new sources of energy come as the Israel Electric Corporation announced a record high in demand due to an unusually intense heat wave.

Two solar energy systems using photovoltaic technology were recently installed in Har Gilo, near Jerusalem. The systems were set up by Friendly Energy, and the power they produce will be sold to the Israel Electric Corporation under a 20-year contract.

Friendly Energy plans to install an additional two systems in the Jordan River Valley, and dozens more in communities across the country. The systems built in Har Gilo were the first major solar energy producing systems to be installed in Judea or Samaria.

On Monday, Leviathan Energy plans to connect its small wind turbine Wind Lotus to the electric grid. The first-of-its-kind wind energy project will be celebrated with an event at Sde Boker, a southern kibbutz commonly known as the home of Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion.

The wind turbine to be connected Monday is designed to produce 3.5 kilowatts of power, even in areas where winds are not particularly strong. It begins producing energy at wind speeds of 1-2 meters per second or 3.4 kilometers (2.2 miles) an hour.

The government has begun encouraging the use of wind power by paying owners of small wind turbines who provide energy to the national grid a tariff of up to 1.65 shekels per kilowatt hour.

Green Wind Energy has obtained a permit from the Ministry of Interior, the Public Utilities Authority, and Israel Electric Corporation for its plans to build a 14-megawatt wind farm in the Golan Heights.

Israel is continuing to invest in wind energy. Green Wind Energy Ltd., which has operated wind turbines on the Golan Heights for 18 years, announced on Sunday that it has obtained a permit from the Ministry of Interior, the Public Utilities Authority, and Israel Electric Corporation for its plans to build a 14-megawatt wind farm in the Golan Heights.

After the construction of the first seven wind turbines, additional wind turbines are planned as well, up to a total of 160. They will be erected over a period of two years and in total will generate about 450 megawatts of electricity.

The expected cost for the additional wind turbines is about $ 800 million, with the eventual expected revenue from the wind farm being $ 150 million per year.

While Israel has traditionally focused on solar power, recently it has begun to put more resources into developing its wind energy industry. The Golan Heights is a good site to invest in this field since it is a windswept plateau.

For more information please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net