Analysis of wind characteristics and potential in the East Mediterranean—the Lesvos case

Wind data recorded over a period of two years on Lesvos island in the Aegean archipelagos are analysed in order to establish the wind characteristics and the potential for electricity production. Small islands in the area are not connected to a large grid and depend on oil imports for generating electricity. The possibility of utilizing wind turbines for electricity production offers a clear advantage as far as fiscal costs, environmental pollution and fuel autonomy is concerned. The analysis of the wind profile can also be exploited for the siting of polluting industries and the development of control systems for greenhouse operation. In this work the wind speed measurements are analysed, the diurnal and interannual variations are established, and the potential for power production scaled to an appropriate height is determined.