8 LEVANT: WHERE POLITICS DEFEAT ALTERNATIVE …
223
the remaining amount was covered by donors, especially the European
Union, USAID, and project owners.
Moreover, Jordan passed By Law No. 10 of 2013 for tax exemption on
renewable energy systems, devices, instruments, and energy-consuming
rationalisation, as further incentive instruments.
Renewable energy progress has been slower and more complex in
Lebanon. These resources received official endorsement in 2009 at the
United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Copenhagen, where
the government voluntarily pledged to reach 12% share of renewable
energy by 2020. The pledge was further enforced in 2010 when the thenminister of energy and water expressed commitment toward renewable
resources through the adoption of clean energy plans, and the intention of completing the necessary feasibility studies for wind and solar,
and launching IPP wind farms.
Although the country did not issue a renewable energy law, it developed the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREA) and National
Energy Efficiency Action Plans (NEEAP) through the Lebanese Center
for Energy Conservation (LCEC), based on the Arab Energy Efficiency
Guideline adopted by the Arab Ministerial Council for Electricity in 2010.
The guideline provided a framework for energy efficiency planning in
the Arab region, but Lebanon was first Arab country to officially adopt
it. It was at the forefront of this among Arab countries, developing a
first NEEAP for the years 2011–2016, and adopting a second in 2016
running to 2020. By contrast, Jordan’s NEEAP was developed in 2014.
An energy efficiency law is currently in the making in Lebanon. The
national financing mechanism—NEEREA—was established in 2014 to
leverage private funds for financing small-scale green projects by providing
subsidized long-term and low interest loans through the Central Bank of
Lebanon with the support of the European Union. In so doing, it has
encouraged the distributed solar PV generation market.
Renewable energy became serious in Palestine in 2015, following the
adoption of renewable energy and natural resources law and the netmetering scheme in 2015. Palestine NEEAP’s was adopted earlier in
2012. The electricity demand growth averages 5.2%, with forecasts that
it will reach 8.5% from the year 2025. 34 The growing electricity demand,
the dependence on imports from Israel, and the Palestinian Authority’s
weak record of covering its electricity expenses resulting in accumulated
outstanding debt, is pushing the government to fully support renewable
energy.
223
the remaining amount was covered by donors, especially the European
Union, USAID, and project owners.
Moreover, Jordan passed By Law No. 10 of 2013 for tax exemption on
renewable energy systems, devices, instruments, and energy-consuming
rationalisation, as further incentive instruments.
Renewable energy progress has been slower and more complex in
Lebanon. These resources received official endorsement in 2009 at the
United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Copenhagen, where
the government voluntarily pledged to reach 12% share of renewable
energy by 2020. The pledge was further enforced in 2010 when the thenminister of energy and water expressed commitment toward renewable
resources through the adoption of clean energy plans, and the intention of completing the necessary feasibility studies for wind and solar,
and launching IPP wind farms.
Although the country did not issue a renewable energy law, it developed the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREA) and National
Energy Efficiency Action Plans (NEEAP) through the Lebanese Center
for Energy Conservation (LCEC), based on the Arab Energy Efficiency
Guideline adopted by the Arab Ministerial Council for Electricity in 2010.
The guideline provided a framework for energy efficiency planning in
the Arab region, but Lebanon was first Arab country to officially adopt
it. It was at the forefront of this among Arab countries, developing a
first NEEAP for the years 2011–2016, and adopting a second in 2016
running to 2020. By contrast, Jordan’s NEEAP was developed in 2014.
An energy efficiency law is currently in the making in Lebanon. The
national financing mechanism—NEEREA—was established in 2014 to
leverage private funds for financing small-scale green projects by providing
subsidized long-term and low interest loans through the Central Bank of
Lebanon with the support of the European Union. In so doing, it has
encouraged the distributed solar PV generation market.
Renewable energy became serious in Palestine in 2015, following the
adoption of renewable energy and natural resources law and the netmetering scheme in 2015. Palestine NEEAP’s was adopted earlier in
2012. The electricity demand growth averages 5.2%, with forecasts that
it will reach 8.5% from the year 2025. 34 The growing electricity demand,
the dependence on imports from Israel, and the Palestinian Authority’s
weak record of covering its electricity expenses resulting in accumulated
outstanding debt, is pushing the government to fully support renewable
energy.