Israel devises plan for 40% renewables in 2030

An accelerated expansion of solar power and storage capacity could enable Israel to reach 40% of renewables and save some ILS 6 billion (USD 1.88bn/EUR 1.65bn) by 2030 while eliminating the need to build new fossil power plants, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said earlier this week.

To counter increasing greenhouse gas emissions, Israel should deploy about 20 GW of solar combined with 5.5 GW of storage capacity across the country, according to an action plan devised by the ministry. The new green power plants should be built in structured and fertilised areas, tapping the growing potential for solar systems on buildings, parking lots, reservoirs, roads and built-up areas in order to conserve open spaces and ecosystems in the country.

The addition of these capacities will help decrease greenhouse gases from the electricity sector by 42% compared with 2015 instead of 30% as currently planned. The electricity sector is the main air pollutant in Israel, accounting for 42% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions and the share is expected to rise considering the electrification of transportation and parts of the industry.

"In order to achieve the strategic goal of a zero-emissions and competitive economy, we must accelerate the transition from using polluting fuels to generating electricity from renewable, clean and economic energy. [...] This change of direction is both environmentally and health-wise and economically correct, and is expected to save billions of shekels for the economy and reduce electricity costs as early as this decade," said minister Tamar Zandberg.

The action plan of the ministry includes recommendations for regulatory measures, optimisation and implementation of control systems in the distribution network, and sets priorities in the development of the distribution network to remove obstacles to the absorption of renewable energy.

(ILS 1 = USD 0.314/EUR 0.276)

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