The energy situation in Palestine is very different from other Middle Eastern countries because of the lack of natural resources, current economic conditions, and political instability. At the same time, demand for energy is growing exponentially as a result of rising living standards, high population growth, and rapid industrial expansion.
The Palestinian Authority spent $374m on energy in 2009, with the majority of fuel and electricity being imported. The Palestinian population also pay a relatively high price for energy. Electricity constitutes about 10% of the average household income, which is much higher than the 2% of neighboring countries like Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
The Palestinian Energy and Environment Research Centre (PEC), established in 1993, is affiliated with the Palestinian Energy Authority (PEA). It conducts a range of research on increasing the efficiency of energy usage and developing renewable energy in the Palestinian Territory. Another problem, according to the General Director of the centre, Ayman Ismail, is that 26% of energy is lost in transit due to poor infrastructure and theft. Ismail estimates that 15% could easily be saved if energy were transported and used more efficiently.
The use of solar energy for water heating is already common. According to the latest survey on household energy by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, over 60% of households use solar water heaters, the highest level in the region. Solar water heaters also apparently cover 40% of hospitals’ water heating needs and 25% of hotels’ needs. However, the widespread usage of solar water heaters does not necessarily imply an awareness of renewable energy. With 300 days of sun a year, solar water heaters are a cheaper alternative than using electricity for water heating. 90% of the solar water heaters are manufactured locally.
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