The key role of sustainable renewable energy technologies in facing shortage of energy supplies in Palestine: Current practice and future potential

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production Vol. 293; p. 125348
• Main Authors: Salah, Wael A., Abuhelwa, Mai, Bashir, Mohammed JK
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15-04-2021
• Subjects: Biomass; Energy balance; Government practice; Renewable energy; Solar energy; Sustainability; Energy balance; Government practice; Biomass; Renewable energy; Sustainability; Solar energy
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125348

Renewable and sustainable energy technologies can play a major rule in Palestine due to its dependability and security. Some facts about the electricity and potential clean sources were discussed in this study based on the challenges faced Palestinian to develop those sources. It was found that energy sector in Palestinian is highly deepening on imports from others. Accordingly, a comprehensive study focusing into the current energy situation and potential development is needed. Renewable energy status and the availability by its main types including, wind, solar, thermal, and biomass energies were critically reviewed and discussed in this study.
The results indicated that the main portion of 93.87% of electrical energy supply purchased from the Israeli Electrical Corporation (93.87), another 2.03% purchased from Jordan and Egypt, and only 4.1% generated locally. Nevertheless, only 166,902 MWh (2.63%) of electricity produced from renewable source of energy out of the 6,336,185 MWh generated in 2018. Not surprisingly, around 75% of the entire electricity is consumed by building sector which is classified as the first consumer of electricity within Palestine. Fortunately, within the last 5 years, 6 PV solar panel projects were established to generate electricity for private and public sectors with a total capacity of 10.6 MWp. It can be concluded that there is an essential need to adopt a new action plan aims at addressing energy independency and sustainability. There is a need to accelerates more research and investment in renewable energy sector to use hybrid energy system which can offer a better grid stability.
•Overview of status and prospects of renewable energy in Palestine.•Solar, shore-wind and biomass could play an important role in the future of renewable energy in Palestine.•Solar energy was the most common source of renewable energy used in Palestine.•There is a good orientation toward the solar energy by the Palestinian householders.•Palestinian higher education influences the development of renewable energy.