Friday Jun 13, 2025
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home Environment & Wildlife

Israel unveils NIS 80B plan to boost solar energy, aims to see production rise by 30%

Though awash with sunlight, at the end of last year Israel was producing just 5% of its electricity from solar energy. About 64% came from natural gas and the rest from coal. Energy Ministry aims to completely phase out coal by 2026.

by  Reuters and ILH Staff
Published on  06-03-2020 10:28
Last modified: 06-21-2020 16:34
Israel unveils NIS 80B plan to boost solar energy, aims to see production rise by 30%AP/Sebastian Scheiner

Solar dishes in Kibbutz Kvutzat Yavne, in southern Israel | File photo: AP/Sebastian Scheiner

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Energy Ministry on Tuesday unveiled an 80 billion shekel ($22.8 billion) plan to increase the use of solar power over the next decade, as Israel's population and energy demand are set to surge.

Though awash with sunlight, at the end of last year Israel was producing just 5% of its electricity from solar energy. About 64% came from natural gas and the rest from coal.

 Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said the new target is to outpace rising demand and have solar power production grow to 30% by 2030, or about 16,000 megawatts. That is roughly the same as total energy production today.

At peak hours, more than 80% of Israel's electricity will be generated by the sun, according to the plan. The Energy Ministry aims to completely phase out coal by 2026.

Steinitz said most of the money will go into solar energy facilities to be built by the private sector. Other costs include upgrading the national grid and investing in energy storage.

This program will cut air pollution by 93% in comparison with 2015.

Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz (Oren Ben Hakoon) Oren Ben Hakoon

Under the plan, sunlight will be the source of 90% of the power produced from renewable sources, while other sources such as wind, water, and biomass will supply the remaining 10%.

At the press conference on Tuesday, Steinitz said he plans to make the solar energy plan the main focus of his second term as energy minister.

"A target of 30% renewable energy will turn Israel into a world leader in solar energy use. Within 10 years, we will have to construct solar energy and power storage installations on a scale equivalent to all the power plants and power production existing in Israel today."

Still, a goal of 30% of power production from renewable energy sources is fairly conservative compared to similar goals set by other members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, some of which have gone so far as to set a goal of 100%.

In Europe, wind is the main source of energy, whereas in Israel the potential for power production from wind energy is close to zero.

According to financial daily Globes, a recent Environmental Protection Ministry survey found that Israel could exceed 50% of power from renewable sources by making maximum use of areas of land already designated for that purpose.

Commenting on the study, Steinitz said, "Israel doesn't have rivers like in Norway or Albania, wind like in Denmark, or geothermal energy like in New Zealand, and so we cannot be compared to these countries."

Steinitz said that reaching 26% of its power production capacity from solar energy will put Israel among the leading countries in the world for solar power production.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories! 

Related Posts

Scientists solve mystery of Florida's 'red tide'AFP/Giorgio Viera

Scientists solve mystery of Florida's 'red tide'

by Miri Weissman

For the first time, researchers identify viruses linked to the phenomenon that turns the sea red, kills marine life, threatens...

How the IDF helped save LA from wildfiresIDF

How the IDF helped save LA from wildfires

by Ronit Zilberstein

Specialized unit of young Israeli soldiers working from the Home Front Command headquarters provided vital data analysis that proved instrumental...

Gaza fishermen's cruel dolphin capture draws international condemnationGaza social media

Gaza fishermen's cruel dolphin capture draws international condemnation

by Erez Linn

The marine mammal became entangled in fishing nets near Al-Qarara's southern shores, where fishermen claimed the capture was accidental.

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il