Wind Energy

Israel approved the large-scale Golan wind farm

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed a decree that declares the wind farm to be built in the northern area of the Golan heights a national project.

The wind energy plant, which is planned to be built in the area between Massadeh and Majdal Shams, will consist of 70 wind turbines for a total capacity of 155 MW.

It’s the largest renewable plant in the whole Middle East, excluding traditional hydropower. Construction works should begin in the quarter of 2011 and be completed by the end of 2012 by the Israeli company Multimatrix in joint-venture with US-based AES, the total investment amounting to about $400 million.

The announcement made by the Israeli Prime Minister caused doubts regarding the outcome of the peace agreement between Israel and Syria, which could include Israel’s withdrawal from the Golan heights and therefore also from the area where the wind farm will be developed.

Nevertheless, MultiMatrix does not show concern for this matter. Indeed, it specified that the land for the site has been leased from local Druze residents. Moreover, at the beginning of this year, when the project was presented, CEO Uri Omid had already said that «if Israel returns the Golan back to Syria in a peace deal, we will be compensated. Regardless, this project can work for us or work for them: someone will always need the electricity».

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