Feasibility Study of Offshore Wind Turbine Installation for Persian Gulf

Renewable energies have potential for supplying of relatively clean and mostly local energy. Wind energy generation is expected to increase in the near future and has experienced dramatic growth over the past decade in many countries. Offshore winds are generally stronger and more constant than onshore winds in many areas. The economic feasibility for utilization of offshore wind energy depends on the favorable wind conditions in the area. The present paper analyses offshore wind speed in global scale and also studies feasibility of introducing this technology for harnessing wind in Persian Gulf areas which belong to Iran. There are many installed wind turbines in suitable regions like Manjil and Binalood, but there has not been any offshore wind installation yet in Iran yet. It could be concluded from the data that North-Eastern part of Persian Gulf is suitable location for installation of offshore wind farms. Offshore wind turbines could supply electricity for Gheshm Island and also Bandar-Abbas Port which are closest cities with high populations for this purpose. It is suggested that policy makers to invest and pay more attentions toward harnessing renewable energy sources like offshore wind in Persian Gulf.