With demand for electricity growing at around 10% a year, the country needs to build more than 800MW of generation capacity annually to meet demand. The government sees renewables as playing a key role in plugging this gap.
The tender, for a contract to design, supply and construct up to 50MW of wind power, also requires the winner to train staff of the National Energy Research Center. The facility, described as a pilot project, will be on the shores of Lake Qattinah, near Homs. Wind speeds in the region of around eight metres/second would allow operation for up to 3,000 hours a year, according to the electricity ministry. Bids are to be submitted by August 16.
In November, the ministry invited firms to pre-qualify to build, own and operate 50-100MW of wind power as independent power producers at Al-Sukhna and Al-Hijana (Windpower Monthly, January 2010). The shortlist is expected this month and commissioning is scheduled for 2014.
In May, Marafeq, part of Syria's Cham Holding Group, announced a strategic partnership with Danish turbine maker Vestas to develop wind power projects in Syria, including those at Al-Sukhna and Al-Hijana.
