Syria to build wind farms

Syria`s electricity authority is seeking advice on the country’s first wind farm project, the Middle East business newsletter MEED reports.

Syria has already launched the pre-qualification process for the 50-100 megawatt project, with bids due at the end of this month .
The wind-power development would be part of a master plan for renewable energy and energy efficiency that the Syrian government is preparing, in co-operation with the German Agency for Technical cooperation.
By 2030, Syria wants to generate 2,500 mw of wind power and 3,000mw of photovoltaic solar power. The country wants to install four million solar water heating systems and to increase the efficiency of various sectors of its economy to bring them in line with international standards.

This year, it plans to announce two additional wind projects with respective generating capacities of 30mw and 100mw, to install a 1mw photovoltaic array and to launch a joint venture to produce photovoltaic panels.

Damascus, 8 February 2010