Evaluation of a Plan to Establish a Wind Farm in the Mediterranean Sea. Final Research Report

The purpose of the present research is an investigation of the feasibility of building an offshore wind farm in Israel. The first part of the report presents a detailed literature survey. This survey includes: national programs for offshore wind energy exploitation, meteorological aspects of wind resources in offshore sites, engineering aspects related to offshore wind farms and the issue of foundations for turbines in offshore sites. Other aspects that are addressed in the survey are: Electrical aspects (including the connection to the gird onshore), environmental aspects (noise, view, wildlife, etc.), legal aspects, etc. The second part of the report includes an initial feasibility study. It presents an estimate of the wind energy potential in two offshore sites. These sites include one in the south, near Erez, and another one near Hadera. The estimations are based on recent measurements.