Solar project brings affordable energy to Palestinian homes

Traditionally Palestinians have had to rely on Israel for their electricity. They do import some electricity from Jordan and Egypt, but it’s done little to reduce their dependence on Israeli energy suppliers. It’s estimated that around 80 percent of Palestinian electricity is imported.

The electricity tariff in the Palestinian authorities is also about 15 percent higher than in Israel, even though the GDP for Palestine is much lower. Palestine is a territory poor in wealth, but also in natural energy resources such as natural gas and fossil fuels which can be generated into electricity. Energy security is a controversial topic.

The opening of the 710 kW first phase of the planned 1.5 MW Dead Sea Photovoltaic Generating Plant has gone some way in improving the situation, offering drastically lowered energy prices for Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem. The plant uses solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells, and turns sunlight into electricity and is the biggest photovoltaic (PV) installation producing electricity in Palestine.  It’s based near Jericho and is 258 meters (846 ft) below sea level.

The organization, Future for Palestine, is funding the $1 million solar project. It’s headed by Salam Fayyad, the former prime minister of the Palestinian National Authority. Future for Palestine has already been subsidizing electricity bills for 5,000 families suffering from poverty in East Jerusalem which amounts to $14 per family and reduces their bills by an average of 25%. To ensure this support for Palestinian families would be sustainable in the future, the organization decided to fund the new solar project.