Beirut turns to renewables to ease energy crisis
A far-reaching electricity sector reform plan puts solar and wind at the heart of the government’s energy strategy
Lebanon’s Council of Ministers awarded developer licences in early May for 165MW of solar PV facilities across the country, almost exactly five years since inviting bids. Whether bankable power-purchase agreements (PPAs) are attainable within the one-year timeframe amid a political and financial crisis is highly uncertain. However, the failings of the existing electricity system and heavily indebted utility Electricite du Liban—coupled with fossil-fuel poverty unusual for the region—are drawing increasing attention to the country’s largely untapped renewables potential. In 2017, the Lebanese Centre for Energy Conservation (LCEC), an arm of the Ministry of Energy and Water, launched an auctio
Also in this section
8 November 2024
The energy sector will need all viable technologies to meet surging demand as AI and datacentres drain power grids
31 October 2024
Russia still aspires to become a major supplier of hydrogen, CO₂ storage capacity and carbon credits, despite financial constraints and the loss of Western technology and expertise
30 October 2024
Occidental subsidiary signs agreement with Enterprise Products Partners for pipelines and transport services for Bluebonnet hub
23 October 2024
Next government faces the difficult task of balancing decarbonisation ambitions with energy security realities