A significant milestone has been reached by CRETE VALLEY: on 20 March 2026, the project’s first electricity-generating windmill, Windmill1, was successfully installed. The installation took place at the WEL Test Field_2 of the Power Systems Synthesis Laboratory at the Hellenic Mediterranean University, in Heraklion.
Inspired by the iconic windmills of the Lasithi Plateau, Windmill1 represents a unique combination of cultural heritage and modern engineering. Its design is based on the structural principles of the traditional Lasithi-type windmill, which first appeared around 1890 and was historically used for water pumping to support local irrigation. These windmills became a defining feature of the plateau, with their numbers peaking at around 10,000 in the 1950s.
Building on this legacy, Windmill1 adapts the traditional concept to meet contemporary energy needs. While preserving key design element, such as the six-sail structure, it has been developed in compliance with the IEC 61400-2 (Ed. 3.0) standard for small wind turbines. The system features a rotor diameter of 5.5 metres and a rated power of 2 kW at a wind speed of 12 m/s.
Currently in its testing phase, Windmill1 will generate valuable data to assess its performance and inform further development. The next steps of the project include the construction of two additional windmills, which will be installed in the Community Energy Lab 2 (CEL2) in Lasithi Plateau.
This achievement marks a significant step forward for CRETE VALLEY, highlighting how traditional knowledge and modern technology can be effectively combined to address today’s energy challenges.
