By: Zakaria Al Serhed/ Green Life Association

Solar cells spread throughout Gaza Strip

Exclusive to Environment and Development Horizons (Afaq magazine):

The use of solar energy has become a method and goal for the international community in the context of moving towards the use of various sources of renewable energy, such as solar, wind, running water, biomass, and other sources, to address climate change. One of the distinctive features of this comprehensive approach towards the use of renewable and clean energy is adapting to the most available sources in a particular country, which expands people's options in utilizing those sources, whether relying on a single source or multiple sources. This is governed by the abundance and production cost, with data from the International Renewable Energy Agency indicating that 90% of electricity could be produced from renewable energy sources by 2050, with the current dependence on renewable energy sources for electricity production reaching 29%. Solar energy is perhaps one of the most used sources of energy compared to other sources.

Comprehensiveness and Sustainability in the Transition towards the Use of Solar Energy in Occupied Palestinian Territories:

Like other countries, Palestinian Authority signed the United Nations Convention on Climate Change and taking measures to adapt to climate change worldwide. Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) is one of the least contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. However, it has taken the initiative towards the transition to the use of renewable energy sources as a method to adapt to climate change, particularly the transition to use solar energy sources for electricity production. This is based on specialized studies that indicate that the annual sun brightness ratio is sufficient to produce high quantities of electricity.

Transitioning to the use of solar energy as an alternative to using fossil fuels in (OPT) involves multiple standards characterized by inclusiveness and sustainability. The sun is a sustainable source of electricity production because the annual brightness ratio is almost constant and does not experience fluctuations, reflecting a good state of stability in the sustainability and adequacy of the source. It is not limited to the abundance of solar brightness in (OPT) but also ensures stability, sustainability, and continuity, which makes it one of the advantages that encourage the use of the sun as a source of electricity.

 (OPT) relies on imported fossil fuels from Israel for its electricity production as it is not available in (OPT), and Israeli occupation controls the available quantities. Additionally, coal, which is also used in electricity production, is not available. Moreover, (OPT) generates only a small amount of electric power because the major amount is directly imported from Israel, and a small amount is imported from Jordan or Egypt. This means that electricity companies in (OPT) are mostly involved in transmission and distribution rather than production. The shift towards solar energy means achieving comprehensiveness and integration in controlling all stages of providing electricity service in terms of production, transmission, to distribution.

Political Value Added to the Transition to Solar Energy:

In addition to the various benefits related to the shift towards solar energy, especially in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution and obtaining sustainable renewable energy, there is political added value for (OPT) that can be achieved through this transition. The more reliance on solar energy, the less reliance on fossil fuels controlled by the Israeli occupation and its control over the amount of electricity supplied to (OPT) and using this file as a means of political and financial blackmail. This means that the transition towards using solar energy is a crucial step towards disengagement from the Israeli policies and enhancing the Palestinian national sovereignty, which is lacking in many areas, of which energy is an essential component. It also represents a crucial part of the Palestinian national security, as it can simply send a message to the Israeli occupation that "you cannot block the sun."

Legal Framework Regulating the Use of Solar Energy:

Efforts to create a legislative framework to regulate the use of solar energy in electricity production in (OPT) have been ongoing for more than ten years. Despite the absence of specific legislations for solar energy, the provisions of existing legislations apply fully to solar energy as an essential part of renewable energy sources. Given the importance of this issue, it is stated at various levels in relevant legislations, such as laws, Decisions of the Council of Ministers, and instructions from competent authorities. The aim of creating a legislative framework is to increase and enhance the private sector's confidence to invest in solar energy and to create a stable and organized investment environment that enjoys protection.

1. Law No. (14) on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: This law regulates the use of renewable energy in (OPT) and applies to the use of solar energy as one of the renewable energy sources. It aims to encourage the use of renewable energy and defines the scope of its application for individuals, institutions, and companies in production and sales processes. The law also includes provisions related to connection mechanisms and the powers of Palestinian electricity companies, whether for generation, transmission, or distribution. It encourages investment in renewable energy production, exempts renewable energy production equipment from customs fees, and allocates land for renewable energy production plants.

Regarding the use of solar energy specifically, the law considers it as one of the sources of renewable energy to which the provisions of the law apply. The law also adopts the mechanisms of the Palestinian Solar Energy Initiative, which specifically targets home-based solar energy systems with capacities of 5 kW or less per a single system.

2. Instructions No. (1) of 2017 on Regulating Renewable Energy Projects on School and Higher Education Institution Roofs:

These instructions regulate the construction and connection processes for renewable energy projects on the roofs of schools and higher education institutions, as well as other technical aspects related to meters, pricing, and distributor obligations. The instructions also include provisions for monitoring these projects and submitting quarterly reports to the Electricity Regulatory Council.

3. Cabinet Decision No. (6) of 2017 on the System of Incentives for Encouraging Investment in Renewable Energy Technologies: This decision includes provisions related to the conditions for accessing investment incentives in solar energy, as well as incentives for power plants with production capacities of no less than 1 MW, which are exempted from income tax for the first seven years, with a 50% reduction for the following five years, and a 10% reduction for the three years thereafter.
4. Instructions No. (1) of 2018 on Regulating Electricity Generation Projects from Medium-Sized Renewable Energy (5-999 kW): These instructions issued by the Energy and Natural Resources Authority to regulate the generation and sale of electricity from solar energy for medium-sized projects, define the tariff for produced energy, connection procedures with distribution companies, and the obligations of the project owner company.

5. Package Incentive Contract Regulation for Encouraging Investment in the Field of Using Renewable Energy Technologies No. (9) of 2021:

This regulation includes incentives applicable to production projects of electricity from solar energy for self-consumption and selling the surplus to the distribution company, solar power plants with a capacity of not less than 1 MW, and medium-sized electricity generation plants with a capacity of not less than 100 kW and not exceeding 999 kW. The incentives include income tax exemptions for periods of up to about 13 years, with rates ranging from 0% to 10% according to the years divided into three stages.

Solar panels in Tubas- West Bank

Institutional Framework for the Use of Solar Energy:

1. The Council of Ministers:

 It is the supreme supervisory authority for the formulation of policies for the transition to the use of solar energy in electricity production. It provides a set of decisions that define the roles of lower-level supervisory authorities and executive authorities in regulating and encouraging investment in the use of solar energy for electricity production.

2. The Energy and Natural Resources Authority

It is the lower-level supervisory authority for the application of policies for the transition to the use of solar energy for electricity production in  (OPT) through instructions it issues to the Electricity Regulation Council regarding the regulation of the use of solar energy in electricity production in terms of construction, implementation conditions, compliance with technical specifications and sales operations, and the regulation of the relationship with electricity transmission and distribution companies. As part of the process of transitioning to the use of solar energy, specialized departments are expected to be established within the structure of the Energy Authority for renewable energy, including solar energy, to be able to monitor the regulation and implementation of projects using solar energy.

3. Electricity Regulation Council:

 It represents the executive body responsible for monitoring and following-up the establishment of electricity generation plants using solar energy, monitoring the regulation of the relationship between those plants and electricity companies, and determining tariffs, prices, and surplus sales operations. In addition, it monitors the implementation of policies related to incentives for investment in the electricity production sector through investment in solar energy.

Solar Energy in (OPT)'s Climate Change Mitigation Plan:

Analyses of greenhouse gas emission reduction scenarios in (OPT) indicate that the use of photovoltaic solar cells ranks first among realistic measures in these scenarios, as stated in the first national report on climate change in 2016. There is also an established market for solar thermal energy and a growing market for photovoltaic solar energy. Energy efficiency technologies, such as energy-efficient lighting, were also introduced.

Initiatives Towards the Transition to Solar Energy:

There are many initiatives aimed at using solar energy to produce electricity, such as the initiative to convert schools to solar energy usage, which has reached 297 schools under the Ministry of Education's Green School program. The Palestinian Investment Fund invested $35 million to provide solar panels on the roofs of 500 schools in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. The Palestinian government aims to increase the gradual production of renewable energy sources to 240 megawatts by 2020 and add 500 megawatts of renewable energy sources between 2021-2030, the majority of which are solar energy sources, reaching a total of 10% of locally produced electricity and 25% of energy consumption in (OPT). The focus is on expanding the use of solar panels to generate electricity at the household and community level in Area “C” due to Israeli obstacles to establishing large-scale solar power projects in those areas. Those areas constitute 61% of Palestinian territories. The percentage of open areas classified as "A" and "B" in the West Bank is about 14%, and part of it is used to establish solar power plants while the percentage of open areas classified as "C" is 37% of the total area.

Statistics released by the Palestinian Energy and Natural Resources Authority (2016-2019) indicate that electricity production from solar energy reached about 80 megawatts in 2016 (20 megawatts in Gaza Strip and 60 megawatts in the West Bank). The Energy Authority aims to reach 130 megawatts of solar energy production by 2020 and 500 megawatts by 2030. The following table includes some examples of initiatives to establish solar power projects. These examples are provided to give an idea of the nature and scale of such initiatives and are not intended to identify and count such projects, since comprehensive data on this matter is not yet available.

Table No. (1)

Examples of Solar Energy Projects for Electricity Production

                                                                                             Source: Energy and Natural Resources Authority

One of the most important initiatives undertaken by the Palestinian Energy Authority towards promoting the transition towards solar energy in electricity production is the "Rotary Fund for Solar Energy Systems" project targeting the Gaza Strip. It announced the launch of the first phase of the project to produce electricity for households and small institutions in the Gaza Strip, using four systems: 2.5 kW, 3 kW, 5 kW for residential use, and 5 kW for small institutions. An electronic application form was provided to allow everyone to apply for the project, and the cost can be paid in interest-free monthly installments.

"Hayat Gaza" Company for Solar Energy is implementing a project to produce electricity through solar energy with a capacity of up to 15 MW, to be sold to the Gaza Electricity Company, and the project is in its final stages of connection with the electricity company.

The Reality of Operational Tools and Solar Energy Technology in (OPT)

There is a trend in (OPT) towards investing in the solar energy sector. The Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) indicates that many Palestinian companies import solar cell panels, but with low quality. Some universities have started teaching courses related to designing and maintaining solar power plants without relying on highly credible research and studies. The Institute proposed the establishment of vertical solar energy plants consisting of two-sided panels, which would increase the efficiency of the produced energy compared to single-sided panels, and it would reduce the depletion of agricultural land by raising solar panels on vertical supports.

There are many companies that have already started investing in the solar energy sector, but the reality of these companies indicates that most of them integrate production in the field of electricity in general, and work partially in the field of solar electricity production. Many of them state in their advertisements the nature of their work in solar energy production, but in reality, they only work in the field of solar thermal energy production for providing hot water. There are only a few companies specialized in solar electricity production or specialized in providing operational tools and equipment needed for these projects or specialized in the maintenance of operational devices for solar electricity production projects. However, this market can expand based on increasing public awareness of the importance of shifting towards solar energy in electricity production and increasing the clarity of information and data related to this approach in terms of financial cost, investment feasibility, and investment risk in this sector.