8 LEVANT: WHERE POLITICS DEFEAT ALTERNATIVE …
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enabler of alternative energy deployment in the region, decreasing the
need for expensive better storage, and enabling more stability in the grid
and flexibility in the system.
If Lebanon’s 2019 policy paper is implemented, and the planned
conventional generation capacities are built, then the country will face the
same prospect as Jordan, and will need external markets for its electricity
in order to further add renewable energy capacity.
Complex regional politics however mean that an Arab electricity
exchange market is easier planned than executed. Jordan currently has
an interconnected grid with Syria, which is in turn connected to Lebanon
suffering from a shortage in electricity supply. It may seem as a match
made in heaven, except that for political and economic purposes, Syria
would not allow Jordan to wheel power through its transmission grid.
Syria, suffering from a liquidity shortage, would rather sell electricity to
Lebanon, instead of only wheeling it.
Talks about establishing links between Gulf and Levant countries have
been taking place. It remains unclear if such links will start regional grid
rivalries or will lead to a more collaborative environment. In early January
2019, following a feasibility assessment, a Jordanian-Saudi technical
committee approved the plans of building an interconnection between
the two countries through a 170 km transmission line, expected to be
completed in 2022. Jordan is also planning a grid connection with Iraq,
and Saudi Arabia is also eyeing a connection to Iraq.
Conclusion
Alternative energy would significantly improve the energy security of
economies in the Levant by diversifying the sources of supply and enhance
the economy by reducing the cost fuel and electricity imports and
subsidies. But despite governments’ drive, targeted pledges, and policy
instruments, the economies have fallen behind their 2020 targets, mostly
due to the lack of long-term planning, the weakness of institutions, the
inconsistency of policy, and the low ranking of alternative energy on the
cabinets’ agendas.
The major strength of alternative energy is that it can challenge the
status quo and overcome the governance bottlenecks in Lebanon through
distributed generation, and decrease dependence on foreign actors in
Jordan and Palestine. In fact, Jordan could also move from being an
energy importer to becoming an electricity exporter. But aspirations are
233
enabler of alternative energy deployment in the region, decreasing the
need for expensive better storage, and enabling more stability in the grid
and flexibility in the system.
If Lebanon’s 2019 policy paper is implemented, and the planned
conventional generation capacities are built, then the country will face the
same prospect as Jordan, and will need external markets for its electricity
in order to further add renewable energy capacity.
Complex regional politics however mean that an Arab electricity
exchange market is easier planned than executed. Jordan currently has
an interconnected grid with Syria, which is in turn connected to Lebanon
suffering from a shortage in electricity supply. It may seem as a match
made in heaven, except that for political and economic purposes, Syria
would not allow Jordan to wheel power through its transmission grid.
Syria, suffering from a liquidity shortage, would rather sell electricity to
Lebanon, instead of only wheeling it.
Talks about establishing links between Gulf and Levant countries have
been taking place. It remains unclear if such links will start regional grid
rivalries or will lead to a more collaborative environment. In early January
2019, following a feasibility assessment, a Jordanian-Saudi technical
committee approved the plans of building an interconnection between
the two countries through a 170 km transmission line, expected to be
completed in 2022. Jordan is also planning a grid connection with Iraq,
and Saudi Arabia is also eyeing a connection to Iraq.
Conclusion
Alternative energy would significantly improve the energy security of
economies in the Levant by diversifying the sources of supply and enhance
the economy by reducing the cost fuel and electricity imports and
subsidies. But despite governments’ drive, targeted pledges, and policy
instruments, the economies have fallen behind their 2020 targets, mostly
due to the lack of long-term planning, the weakness of institutions, the
inconsistency of policy, and the low ranking of alternative energy on the
cabinets’ agendas.
The major strength of alternative energy is that it can challenge the
status quo and overcome the governance bottlenecks in Lebanon through
distributed generation, and decrease dependence on foreign actors in
Jordan and Palestine. In fact, Jordan could also move from being an
energy importer to becoming an electricity exporter. But aspirations are