Iraq Begins First-Ever Electricity Generation Using Wind Energy
(AWP) - Iraq’s first two electricity-generating windmills were installed in Sulaymaniyah, in the north of the country, as part of a project tailored to the four seasons of the Kurdistan region, officials say.
Located on top of Mount Kweiza in Sulaymaniyah, the ‘Gavi Land’ resort represents an important step toward making the best use of alternative and environmentally-friendly energy sources.
“The cost of this project is very low compared to the volume of electricity generated. This station is designed to operate for 10 years without stopping. This is the first project of its kind in Iraq. It is an everyday sight in some countries, but is being implemented for the first time in Iraq and the Kurdistan region,” said Dana Hassan, the project’s Administrative Director.
He points to the project’s compatibility to the climate in the region, adding that it was built to “withstand high heat and cold, as well as the sub-zero temperatures on Mount Kweiza.”
“We designed them, and they were built by a foreign company according to our specifications. After receiving them, we installed them on Mount Kweiza,” he added.
According to project’s Electrical Engineer, Hokar Abdul Khalek, the project, “uses the latest type of windmill, which operates normally when the air force is more than 2.5 miles per hour, and stops if the air stops. It charges batteries and generates electricity during operation.”
Iraq also seeks to activate solar energy projects, in an attempt to reduce dependence on fossil fuels while securing adequate energy for its population of 40 million.