A long tradition of cooperation in energy research

Germany and Israel have been working closely together on energy 
research for about 40 years. Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) and Israel’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Space (MOST) initially supported projects involving mainly photovoltaics, the development of solar cells and energy storage. The focus now is on solar and wind energy, along with global warming and hydroelectric power.

The topic of wind energy currently heads the list for the German and Israeli com­panies also involved in this cooperation. As part of the Renewable Energies Export Initiative the two ministries and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) will be inviting Israeli decision-makers in public administration, political bodies and other organizations as well as representatives of the business and scientific communities to Germany for an in­formation tour on Wind Energy and Network Integration from 16 to 19 June 2014. Two years ago, Israeli visitors on a similar trip were able to establish contacts in the ­energy efficiency sector.

Israel certainly has the potential to use wind energy, even if the average wind level is adequate only in certain areas. According to figures from the German-Israeli Chamber 
of Industry and Commerce, twelve wind 
turbines with a total capacity of about six megawatts are currently operating at three locations. This is not very much.

To date, the building permits required 
for these facilities have been refused on the grounds of inadequate safety, the potential risk to migratory birds and poss­ible noise pollution – arguments that are repeatedly put forward by opponents of wind energy in Germany as well. Visits to companies that are highly respected for their expertise in the wind energy sector should inform the opinion leaders from Israel and help to allay any concerns. German companies, for their part, will have an opportunity to present their systems and technologies. ▪

Sybille Wilhelm