Winds of Peace, An Israeli – Palestinian joint venture for the development of wind energy

Despite the bad winds blowing in the wake of the flotilla affair, the Israeli cleantech company, Israel Wind Power and the Brothers Group Engineering Company from Bethlehem arrived at an agreement of principles to cooperate in a unique and special venture. Dr. Mohammed Salem, CEO of the participating Palestinian company said: "Business Collaboration in the area of wind energy is something which will be for the benefit of everyone, it will serve as a bridge of peace for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict"

According to the agreement formulated between the two companies, there will be a joint (Israeli-Palestinian) venture exclusively dedicated to the installation of wind turbines in the Palestinian West Bank areas (B and C). This venture will include marketing, manufacturing and installation of wind turbines generating 2 kws up to 50 kws of electrical power for factories, offices and private homes.

The Israel Wind Power company will provide its Palestinian counterparts the technology and professional training to manufacture large capacity turbines, use of resistance accumulators for many years as well as advanced techniques which implement the most advanced standards.

The Brothers Engineering Group, was established in 2006 and specializes in renewable energy systems. To date the company has developed and installed five wind turbine systems to generate 2 kW, of clean off-grid electricity for private homes, collected by batteries.

The company Israel Wind Power specializes in the development, design and installation of wind turbines producing clean electricity for both the private and business sector. Israel Wind Power already acts, in Israel, a representative of number of leading turbine manufacturers.

Israel Wind power has more than a decade of experience in product development and manufacturing technology in Israel and around the world.

According to the business development manager of Israel Wind Power, Yoram Suissa, the Palestinian company will, through participation in this joint venture, receive an open channel to market its products, the ability to receive raw materials and the ability to significantly upgrade its development.

Also Palestinian company will be able to show its technology in the international arena. He said, "We will be for our Palestinians friends and colleagues a pipeline for their products to be marketed both in Israel and abroad. We shall partially finance their initial activities and act to raise money for joint projects from various sources."

"We see this joint business venture to be a business enterprise which connects these two communities in a blessed way, setting aside the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," says Dr. Mohammed Salem, CEO of Palestinian company, "We believe that this is an example of the ability of ordinary people to bridge gaps between our communities, especially during these stormy days."

The cooperation agreement will be signed within the next few days. The joint venture is expected to have already begun by the end of the month.

Brothers Engineering Group will present the development of the Palestinian turbine at the 2010 CleanTech exhibition in Tel-Aviv, at a stand shared with Israel Wind Power.

The objective is the establishment of a joint project in Israel and the Palestinian territories to be up and running within one year.

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