Wind data for the years 2000 and 2001 were analyzed to evaluate the wind potential of the Mikra-Thessaloniki, region in northern Greece. The objective of the analysis was the establishment of the required criteria to answer the question: "are the renewable energy sources capable to maintain the operation of a desalination pilot unit?" The polar diagrams of the wind (wind speed, frequency, direction), the mean monthly and annual wind speed profile and the Weibull distributions for the years 2000 and 2001 are presented. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.