Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Embracing Solar Power: The Silver Lining in Lebanon's Energy Crisis

In the face of an energy shortage, Lebanon embraces renewable solar energy as a cost-effective and reliable solution
On a rather warm winter day, high in the mountains of Matn District, just above Beirut, I found myself welcomed by Roger and Elias Mazloum. In their quaint early 20th-century family abode, I took my humble turn at chopping wood alongside these robust Lebanese brothers, natives of the small town of Broummana, approximately a dozen miles east of Beirut's capital.

Their charming home, adorned with traditional Lebanese floor tiles and art tributes to late Egyptian music legend Umm Kulthum, offered a panoramic view of pine-blanketed mountains and a misty hint of the Mediterranean Sea from the roof. However, the highlight of the tour was the roof's latest addition – 18 solar panels, which have become an essential part of their life amid Lebanon's debilitating power shortage.

Joining the ranks of tens of thousands of Lebanese citizens, the Mazloum family has adopted solar power as a reliable and economical energy source in a nation grappling with a power crisis. "Even in normal times, we had to endure daily power cuts of five to seven hours," Roger notes, alluding to the period before Lebanon's economic downturn in 2019, which saw the Lebanese lira plunge by over 98% against the US dollar.

As per Pierre Khoury, Director of the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC), the state-run Electricité du Liban (EDL) can generate about 1,800 megawatts, falling short of the country's pre-crisis need of 2,000 to 3,000 megawatts. However, due to the economic collapse, the government is struggling to afford imported fuel, leaving EDL providing a meager 200 to 250 megawatts.

While perusing the TBB Nova app that manages the Mazloums’ solar power system, Elias, a civil engineer, demonstrated that their 18 solar panels generate over one kilowatt per hour, sufficient for their multi-generational household. This solar panel and battery setup, installed in July 2020, has been a game-changer for the family, saving them between $3,000 and $4,000 annually in electricity and generator expenses, and offering an uninterrupted power supply even in the toughest times.

The green energy trend is growing in Lebanon, with solar panels increasingly dotting rural houses, urban apartments, family businesses, and organization buildings. From a standing start in 2010, the nation’s solar capacity increased to 90 megawatts by 2020 and experienced a massive boost with an additional 100 megawatts in 2021 and 500 megawatts in 2022, as reported by LCEC’s Khoury. The Lebanese government pledged in 2018 to source 30% of the country’s energy from renewables by 2030, a commitment it reiterated at the U.N.’s COP27 climate summit.

At Sagesse University in Furn El-Chebbak, a suburb southeast of Beirut, a vast array of solar panels illuminates the rooftop. The university, one of many Lebanese organizations switching to solar energy, aims to harness 300 kilowatts peak on sunny days, sufficient to power their entire campus. ME Green, a pioneer in Lebanon's solar-power sector, has been involved in the installation of around 460 panels at Sagesse University, substantially reducing their reliance on generators and bringing significant financial savings and environmental benefits.

Over the past two years, the solar power industry has exploded in Lebanon, with the number of registered businesses growing from approximately 150 in 2020 to over 800 today. They cater to a broad range of needs, from small household systems starting at $2,000 to $3,500, to large-scale projects involving hundreds of panels or more.

Despite the solar-power boom, energy experts hold mixed feelings. Although it brings undeniable environmental benefits, Lebanon still heavily relies on polluting generators due to the national power company's failure and the absence of large-scale solar farms and green infrastructure. "The amount of CO2 you are reducing from using solar panels, you are also turning on diesel generators for longer," says Marc Ayoub, an energy expert at the American University of Beirut.

Ultimately, sustainable solutions need to come at the community level. However, these projects require a level of investment that Lebanon's cash-strapped government cannot afford. The potential for foreign investment exists, but most lenders are hesitant until the country finalizes a deal with the International Monetary Fund.

Despite these challenges, small companies like ME Green persist in their mission to proliferate solar power in Lebanon. With the cost of solar power dropping by over 90% in the past decade, it has become the most affordable way to generate electricity worldwide.

Back at the Mazloums’ home, as we savored our final sips of Arabic coffee, Elias professed their negligible reliance on generators, emphasizing the efficiency and reliability of their solar system. "People are seeing the real benefits," he stated, suggesting that Lebanon's green energy transformation is happening without us even realizing it.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
China Criticizes US for Vetoing UN Ceasefire Resolution in Gaza
Saudi Arabia ranks first in UN index for e-government services in MENA
Israel Records 20% Drop In GDP, War In Gaza Is The Reason
Saudi Arabia's FDI Inflows Grow with New International Standards
Venture Capitals Power Up Across MENA Region
PM Modi Announces Opening Of New CBSE Office In Dubai
January Funding for MENA Startups Totals $86.5 Million
Saudi Arabia accelerates digital economy growth through Nvidia partnership
Israel unveils tunnels underneath Gaza City headquarters of UN agency for Palestinian refugees
Israel deploys new military AI in Gaza war
Egypt threatens to suspend key peace treaty if Israel pushes into Gaza border town, officials say
Saudi Arabia Warns Of A "Humanitarian Catastrophe" If Israel Moves On Rafah
US University To Shut Qatar Campus Due To "Heightened Mideast Instability"
Facebook and Instagram Ban Iran's Supreme Leader
Defense Technology Showcase Held in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports rise 2.5% to $6bn in November 2023: GASTAT
Rolls-Royce Executive Encourages Saudi Women to Tap into Their Inner 'Superhero' for Success in Defense Industry
Saudi Arabia launches National Academy of Vehicles and Cars
Saudi Tourism Minister Reveals Plan for 250,000 New Hotel Rooms by 2030
SAR to more than double eastern network passenger capacity with new trains deal
Saudi Arabia Enhances National Defense with New Partnerships
Saudi Aramco Maintains Arab Light Crude Pricing to Asia for March
NEOM Establishes New York Office to Support Investors
Saudi Wealth Fund Draws in Over $25 Billion Worth of Investments in Three Years, Al-Rumayyan Reveals
The Saudi Kingdom's Ultimatum to Israel: A Win-Win Peace with Saudi Arabia and the Arab World, or a Lose-Lose Continued Occupation and Endless Conflict
Biden condemns anti-Arab hate after WSJ opinion piece calls Dearborn ‘jihad capital’
Turkey Releases Seven Hostages Captured by Pro-Gaza Gunman
Arab Parliament Commends Women's Contributions to Societal Development
British and Hungarian Foreign Ministers visited Lebanese leaders to stress the importance of enacting UN Resolution 1701
Yemen's Houthis Say They Targeted British Merchant Vessel In Red Sea
Donald Trump Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for 'Historic' Middle East Policy
US lawmakers approve F-16 jet sale to Turkey following NATO expansion support
Saudi Arabia Climbs 25 Places in World Bank's National Statistics Indicator
Tourism Growth in Saudi Arabia Fuels Advancements in the Hospitality Industry," Says Rotana Official
Houthi Rebels Request Departure of UN Staff from Yemen, Including US and UK Personnel, within a Month
Modi Inaugurates Hindu Temple on Site of Demolished Mosque in India
Over 25,000 Deaths in Gaza Amid Israeli Offensive
Escalating Clashes in Gaza as Israel Distributes Leaflets to Assist in Locating Hostages
Turkey's First Astronaut Set to Launch for International Space Station Today
Head of Palestinian Investment Fund Warns More People May Die of Hunger Than War in Gaza
Palestinian Envoy Criticizes UK for Alleged 'Double Standards' in Policies Toward Israel
Morocco to Lead UN Human Rights Council in 2024
Is artificial intelligence the solution to cyber security threats?
Egypt has been identified as the leading military force among Arab nations and ranks 15th globally
The AI Revolution in the Workforce: CEOs at Davos Predict Major Job Cuts in 2024
Iranian Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Receives Additional Prison Sentence
"Gazans Urge Israeli Forces to Target Hamas in Leaked Audio"
Biden States US and UK Airstrikes on Houthis Were a 'Defensive Action
Large Pro-Palestine Rally in London as Gaza Conflict Hits Day 100
South Africa Urges World Court to Halt Israeli Actions in Gaza
×