Renewable Energy in Lebanon
Islam News – Lebanon witnessed in recent years a growing interest in renewable energy among many issues that crumbled the government efforts to deal with persistent environmental issues like water, sewage, wastes, and electricity.
Improving the centers and institutions that deal with these specific needs is a first step towards finding a solution. Financial support and help is urgently needed to enable these efforts to come to fruitful ends.
Two main areas to start with is solar energy and wind energy. Solar energy is widely available given the number of clear days throughout the year. If installed properly in every house or structure solar energy will provide free heated water for residents and commercial users most of the year. At an initial cost of $
200 per apartment you can get free heated water, which can cut the cost of electric bill substantially on the national level. This is also an environmental friendly approach, as it will cut on the quantity of fossil fuels needed to generate electricity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Local banks can help in encouraging citizens to turn to this technique by providing grants and zero interest loans to enable them integrate these solutions in their houses and structures.
Another solution is wind energy. This is a viable commercial solution as this energy is salable on the grid system by integrating this energy through the national grid.
International organizations and establishments can provide much needed help in this sector.
Other Middle Eastern countries with proven experience in this field can lend a hand also. Notably Egypt and UAE with their accumulated experience in renewable energy resources are a good example of regional collaboration schemes.
The national work program set in Lebanon with a plan that spans between 2016 and 2020 which was promoted by the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC)is an optimistic step in putting these projects in actual use especially small and middle scale initiatives for solar energy to heat water for domestic use and producing electricity through photovoltaic cells and improving wind energy projects.
Since Lebanese government pledged in COP15 that by 2020 it would produce 12% of its energy needs from renewable resources.
However, actual numbers are not very promising as of 2016 solar power accounted for just 0.26% of total national energy consumption and hydroelectric energy amounted to 3% of total needs.
If Lebanon insists on achieving its goal of producing 12% of its energy needs through renewable resources there will be good chance for private investors to take part in this endeavor.
Providing renewable energy at decent prices will be an important factor in limiting power shortage and overload that is hurting the local economy. It will be a positive sign to achieve sustainable development that would provide the local economy with economic growth and wellbeing and a future that is more prosperous.
