Renewable energy in Palestine

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Dead Sea Photovoltaic Power Generating Plant in Jericho Solar Plant in Jericho.jpg
Dead Sea Photovoltaic Power Generating Plant in Jericho

Renewable energy in Palestine is a small but significant component of the national energy mix, accounting for 1.4% of energy produced in 2012. [1] Palestine has some of the highest rate of solar water heating in the region, [2] and there are a number of solar power projects. A number of issues confront renewable energy development; a lack of national infrastructure and the limited regulatory framework of the Oslo Accords are both barriers to investment.

Contents

Solar power

Solar potential of Palestine West-Bank-And-Gaza GHI mid-size-map 156x220mm-300dpi v20191015.png
Solar potential of Palestine

It has been estimated that solar sources have the potential to account for 13% of energy usage in the Palestinian Territories. [3] Over half of all households in Palestine utilise solar energy heaters, although only 3% of houses depend on it as their main source. [4] A 710kw photovoltaic plant was commissioned in September, 2014 in the vicinity of Jericho; it is the largest plant in Palestine to date. [5] Research has indicated that, although a very high percentage of Palestinian houses are connected to the central grid, powering remote villages with small-scale photovoltaic systems would be more economically feasible than extending the grid. [6]

Israeli authorities seized a solar/diesel hybrid electric system from the Palestinian village of Jubbet ad-Dib in July, 2017. [7] The system was funded by the Dutch government and installed by joint Israeli-Palestinian organisation Comet-ME, leading the Dutch Foreign Ministry to lodge a complaint. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories told reporters that the solar panels were erected “without the necessary permits, and that stop work orders had previously been sent to the village authorities,” [8] although a Haaretz report indicated that the confiscation orders were only delivered during the raid, meaning there was no chance to contest them in court. [9] Residents of the village, located in Area C between a number of Israeli settlements, had been attempting to implement and gain approval for solar power projects since 2009. [10]

Wind power

It has been estimated that wind energy has the potential to account for 6.6% of energy usage in the Palestinian Territories. [3]

Biomass

About half of the Palestinian population - mainly in the rural areas, refugee camps, and Bedouins of North and South Governorates - are exposed daily to harmful emissions and other health risks from biomass burning that typically takes place in traditional stoves without adequate ventilation. The majority of individuals exposed to enhanced concentrations of pollutants are women and young children. [11]

National policy

The Palestinian Energy Authority (PEA) published a 'General Renewable Energy Strategy' in 2012, aiming for 10% of total domestic energy production and 5% of total energy consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020. [12]

Barriers

There are a number of barriers to development of renewable energy resources in Palestine, including regulatory issues resulting from the Israeli occupation, [13] and this meant the government was unable to achieve its target of 25 megawatts by 2015. However, renewable energy has a large potential to reduce reliance on imported energy and address a number of social issues. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy</span> Energy collected from renewable resources

Renewable energy is energy from renewable natural resources that are replenished on a human timescale. The most widely used renewable energy types are solar energy, wind power, and hydropower. Bioenergy and geothermal power are also significant in some countries. Some also consider nuclear power a renewable power source, although this is controversial. Renewable energy installations can be large or small and are suited for both urban and rural areas. Renewable energy is often deployed together with further electrification. This has several benefits: electricity can move heat and vehicles efficiently and is clean at the point of consumption. Variable renewable energy sources are those that have a fluctuating nature, such as wind power and solar power. In contrast, controllable renewable energy sources include dammed hydroelectricity, bioenergy, or geothermal power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Photovoltaics</span> Method to produce electricity from solar radiation

Photovoltaics (PV) is the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect, a phenomenon studied in physics, photochemistry, and electrochemistry. The photovoltaic effect is commercially used for electricity generation and as photosensors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hybrid power</span> Combinations between different technologies to generate electric power

Hybrid power are combinations between different technologies to produce power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Building-integrated photovoltaics</span> Photovoltaic materials used to replace conventional building materials

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) are photovoltaic materials that are used to replace conventional building materials in parts of the building envelope such as the roof, skylights, or façades. They are increasingly being incorporated into the construction of new buildings as a principal or ancillary source of electrical power, although existing buildings may be retrofitted with similar technology. The advantage of integrated photovoltaics over more common non-integrated systems is that the initial cost can be offset by reducing the amount spent on building materials and labor that would normally be used to construct the part of the building that the BIPV modules replace. In addition, BIPV allows for more widespread solar adoption when the building's aesthetics matter and traditional rack-mounted solar panels would disrupt the intended look of the building.

For solar power, South Asia has the ideal combination of both high solar insolation and a high density of potential customers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power</span> Conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity

Solar power, also known as solar electricity, is the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV) or indirectly using concentrated solar power. Solar panels use the photovoltaic effect to convert light into an electric current. Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and solar tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight to a hot spot, often to drive a steam turbine.

A photovoltaic system, also called a PV system or solar power system, is an electric power system designed to supply usable solar power by means of photovoltaics. It consists of an arrangement of several components, including solar panels to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity, a solar inverter to convert the output from direct to alternating current, as well as mounting, cabling, and other electrical accessories to set up a working system. Many utility-scale PV systems use tracking systems that follow the sun's daily path across the sky to generate more electricity than fixed-mounted systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadmium telluride photovoltaics</span> Type of solar power cell

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaics is a photovoltaic (PV) technology based on the use of cadmium telluride in a thin semiconductor layer designed to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity. Cadmium telluride PV is the only thin film technology with lower costs than conventional solar cells made of crystalline silicon in multi-kilowatt systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Photovoltaic thermal hybrid solar collector</span> Solar energy technology

Photovoltaic thermal collectors, typically abbreviated as PVT collectors and also known as hybrid solar collectors, photovoltaic thermal solar collectors, PV/T collectors or solar cogeneration systems, are power generation technologies that convert solar radiation into usable thermal and electrical energy. PVT collectors combine photovoltaic solar cells, which convert sunlight into electricity, with a solar thermal collector, which transfers the otherwise unused waste heat from the PV module to a heat transfer fluid. By combining electricity and heat generation within the same component, these technologies can reach a higher overall efficiency than solar photovoltaic (PV) or solar thermal (T) alone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Malta</span>

Energy in Malta describes energy production, consumption and import in Malta. Malta has no domestic resource of fossil fuels and no gas distribution network, and relies overwhelmingly on imports of fossil fuels and electricity to cover its energy needs. Since 2015, the Malta–Sicily interconnector allows Malta to be connected to the European power grid and import a significant share of its electricity.

Renewable energy is generally defined as energy that comes from resources which are naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat. Renewable energy replaces conventional fuels in four distinct areas: electricity generation, air and water heating/cooling, motor fuels, and rural (off-grid) energy services. Based on REN21's 2014 report, renewables contributed 19 percent to our global energy consumption and 22 percent to our electricity generation in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Photovoltaic mounting system</span>

Photovoltaic mounting systems are used to fix solar panels on surfaces like roofs, building facades, or the ground. These mounting systems generally enable retrofitting of solar panels on roofs or as part of the structure of the building. As the relative costs of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules has dropped, the costs of the racks have become more important and for small PV systems can be the most expensive material cost. This has caused an interest in small users deploying a DIY approach. Due to these trends, there has been an explosion of new racking trends. These include non-optimal orientations and tilt angles, new types of roof-mounts, ground mounts, canopies, building integrated, shading, vertical mounted and fencing systems.

Electricity in Cyprus is managed by the Electricity Authority of Cyprus. Power is primarily generated at three fuel oil-burning stations but the use of distributed renewable energy is expanding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in Italy</span>

Solar power is an important contributor to electricity generation in Italy, accounting for 11.8% of total generation in 2023, up from 0.6% in 2010 and less than 0.1% in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in Saudi Arabia</span>

Solar power in Saudi Arabia has become more important to the country as oil prices have risen. Saudi Arabia is located in the Arabian Peninsula, where it receives 12 hours of sun a day. Saudi Arabia has the potential to supply its electrical needs solely with solar power. As the largest oil producer and exporter in the world and one of the largest carbon dioxide producers Saudi Arabia would set an important precedent in renewable energy by shifting to solar power. In 2021, 60.89% of energy consumed was produced by burning oil. The Saudi agency in charge of developing the nations renewable energy sector, Ka-care, announced in May 2012 that the nation would install 41 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity by 2032. It was projected to be composed of 25 GW of solar thermal, and 16 GW of photovoltaics. At the time of this announcement, Saudi Arabia had only 0.003 gigawatts of installed solar energy capacity. A total of 54 GW was expected by 2032, and 24 GW was expected in 2020, which was never reached. 1,100 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaics and 900 megawatts of concentrated solar thermal (CSP) was expected to be completed by early 2013. Also in 2013, solar power in Saudi Arabia had achieved grid parity and was able to produce electricity at costs comparable to conventional sources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in Kenya</span>

Most of Kenya's electricity is generated by renewable energy sources. Access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy is one of the 17 main goals of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Development of the energy sector is also critical to help Kenya achieve the goals in Kenya Vision 2030 to become a newly industrializing, middle-income country. With an installed power capacity of 2,819 MW, Kenya currently generates 826 MW hydroelectric power, 828 geothermal power, 749 MW thermal power, 331 MW wind power, and the rest from solar and biomass sources. Kenya is the largest geothermal energy producer in Africa and also has the largest wind farm on the continent. In March 2011, Kenya opened Africa's first carbon exchange to promote investments in renewable energy projects. Kenya has also been selected as a pilot country under the Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Programmes in Low Income Countries Programme to increase deployment of renewable energy solutions in low-income countries. Despite significant strides in renewable energy development, about a quarter of the Kenyan population still lacks access to electricity, necessitating policy changes to diversify the energy generation mix and promote public-private partnerships for financing renewable energy projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agrivoltaics</span> Simultaneous agriculture and solar energy production

Agrivoltaics is the dual use of land for solar energy production and agriculture. The technique was first conceived by Adolf Goetzberger and Armin Zastrow in 1981.

A captive power plant, also called autoproducer or embedded generation, is an electricity generation facility used and managed by an industrial or commercial energy user for their own energy consumption. Captive power plants can operate off-grid or they can be connected to the electric grid to exchange excess generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in South Africa</span>

Renewable energy in South Africa is energy generated in South Africa from renewable resources, those that naturally replenish themselves—such as sunlight, wind, tides, waves, rain, biomass, and geothermal heat. Renewable energy focuses on four core areas: electricity generation, air and water heating/cooling, transportation, and rural energy services. The energy sector in South Africa is an important component of global energy regimes due to the country's innovation and advances in renewable energy. South Africa's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is ranked as moderate and its per capita emission rate is higher than the global average. Energy demand within the country is expected to rise steadily and double by 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floating solar</span> Systems of solar cell panels installed on a structure that floats on a body of water

Floating solar or floating photovoltaics (FPV), sometimes called floatovoltaics, are solar panels mounted on a structure that floats. The structures that hold the solar panels usually consist of plastic buoys and cables. They are then placed on a body of water. Typically, these bodies of water are reservoirs, quarry lakes, irrigation canals or remediation and tailing ponds.

References

  1. 1 2 Ziad Yamin, Mohammad. "Renewable Energy in Palestine". EcoMENA Echoing Sustainability. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  2. "Arab States and Sustainable Energy Capabilities: Brief Profiles on Thirteen Countries' Promising Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Markets". Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  3. 1 2 Abu Hamad, Tareq (January 2012). "Renewable energy in the Palestinian Territories: Opportunities and challenges". Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 16 (1): 1082–1088. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2011.10.011.
  4. "Press Release on Results of Household Energy Survey (January 2015)". Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) - State of Palestine. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  5. "No trumpets – solar power for Jericho and its neighbours instead. In the vicinity of the lowest city in the world one of the largest solar power stations in the Middle East produces clean electricity with inverters by KACO new energy". KAKO. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  6. Mahmoud, Marwan (2006). "Techno-economic feasibility of energy supply of remote villages in Palestine by PV-systems, diesel generators and electric grid". Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 10 (2): 128–138. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2004.09.001.
  7. McKernan, Bethan. "Israel seizes solar panels donated to Palestinians by Dutch government" . Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  8. "Israel dismantles Palestinian solar project in West Bank" . Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  9. Hass, Amira. "Dutch protest Israeli seizure of Palestinian solar panels they funded in the West Bank" . Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  10. O'Connor, Anne-Marie. "20 minutes from modern Jerusalem, a Palestinian village is stranded in the past" . Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  11. Abu-Madi, Maher; Abu Rayyan, Ma’moun (2013). "Estimation of main greenhouse gases emission from household energy consumption in the West Bank, Palestine". Environmental Pollution. 179: 250–257. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2013.04.022. PMID   23694729.
  12. "A Socio-Economic Analysis of Renewable Energy Usage in Palestine". Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  13. Marei, Ibrahim (2017). "Developments in Law and Policy: The Promotion of Green Energy in the Electricity Sector of Palestine" (PDF). Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law. 35 (1): 47–67. doi:10.1080/02646811.2016.1216698.

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