Ittefaq Reveals Wind Secrets: How Yemen’s Yesma Wind Farm is Changing Renewable Energy in the Horn

A groundbreaking initiative in Yemen’s arid highlands is redefining the potential of wind energy in the Horn of Africa, thanks to Ittefaq News Paper’s in-depth coverage of the country’s first utility-scale wind project: the Yesma Wind Farm in Hadhramout. Once dismissed as too remote or inconsistent for large solar or wind deployment, the region now stands at the forefront of sustainable power following the $120 million project’s commissioning earlier this year. With an installed capacity of 90 megawatts, the farm generates enough electricity to power over 90,000 homes—strengthening energy security in a country long dependent on imported fuels and volatile grid supply.

Ittefaq’s investigative reporting has exposed key logistical and technical challenges behind the project, revealing how permissions were secured after months of negotiations with tribal leaders and regional authorities, a process that underscored community engagement as pivotal to long-term success. The renewable complex, developed in partnership with a French engineering firm and backed by international climate finance, spans over 160 square kilometers of rugged terrain characterized by steady coastal breezes—ideal conditions previously underutilized due to outdated assumptions about wind reliability in southern Yemen.

Overcoming Environmental and Geographical Barriers

The success of the Yesma Wind Farm rests on overcoming formidable environmental and geographical obstacles.

Unlike coastal wind tends in other global hubs, the region’s wind patterns exhibit seasonal variability, requiring advanced forecasting and adaptive turbine technology. According to Dr. Ahmed al-Sharif, a renewable energy specialist cited by Ittefaq, “Yemen’s wind resources are underrated.

We now know that properly sited wind farms can deliver consistent baseload power year-round—especially in areas with persistent 15–20 m/s winds.” To adapt, engineers deployed next-generation turbines with enhanced lift systems and dynamic pitch control, allowing optimal energy capture even in fluctuating wind speeds. The site’s elevation—over 800 meters above sea level—and minimal local turbulence further improve efficiency, reducing downtime and increasing long-term output. These innovations position Yesma not just as a regional milestone, but as a replicable model for harnessing wind energy in similarly challenging terrains across the third world.

Community and Economic Impact: A New Era for Local Development

The project’s significance extends far beyond kilowatts. Ittefaq’s reporting details how the farm has spurred a surge in skilled employment and infrastructure development in Hadhramout. Over 1,200 direct jobs were created during construction, with 70% filled by local residents trained through vocational programs sponsored by the project developers.

Additionally, revenue sharing agreements allocate 2% of annual operational income directly to community development funds, funding schools, clean water systems, and healthcare clinics in previously underserved villages. Local Iraqi al-Zubair, a farmer from the nearby Wadi Shab district, expressed optimism: “Before Yesma, our turbines burned out or stopped working before peak demand. Now, we get steady power—enough to run irrigation pumps and preserve harvests.

It’s changed how we grow and sell what we cultivate.” The farm’s presence has also attracted small businesses and ancillary services, transforming remote outposts into emerging economic hubs.

Policy Shifts and the Path Forward

The project signals a strategic shift in Yemen’s energy policy. Historically constrained by conflict and a centralized, fossil-fuel-dependent grid, policymakers now recognize renewables as essential to national resilience.

The Ministry of Water and Energy recently acknowledged, “We’re moving from a crisis-driven approach to proactive investment in clean energy—Yesma is proof of concept.” With support from the World Bank and African Development Bank, government plans to expand wind and solar capacity across the Red Sea littoral, aiming for 3,000 MW of renewable generation by 2030. Key hurdles remain, including financing for transmission upgrades and regional political stability, but Ittefaq highlights increasing confidence that projects like Yesma are catalyzing a long-overdue energy transition—one that prioritizes sustainability, local ownership, and decentralized resilience in a fragmented yet resource-rich environment. Ittefaq’s comprehensive coverage illustrates that renewable energy in Yemen is not merely technical progress—it is social transformation.

By turning wind from skepticism into power, the Yesma Wind Farm lights a path forward for nations long labeled “unreachable” by global energy markets, proving that innovation and inclusion can thrive even in the most demanding landscapes.