Electricity Authority announces move to increase renewable energy production
Reform will incentivize people to store renewable energy and release it into grid during evenings and nights when space is available
The Electricity Authority on Sunday announced a reform aimed at encouraging the production of more renewable energy without having to put additional pressure on the already overloaded grid.
The reform will incentivize people to invest in storing the renewable energy that they generate and to release it into the grid during the evenings and nights when space is available.
Israel is committed to generating 30 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Most of that will be solar energy.
But by the end of last year, the state was barely scraping 10 percent, a target it should have reached by 2020.
One of the many problems is that the electricity grid cannot absorb all of the solar energy during the morning and afternoon hours when the sun is shining and the energy is being produced, despite years of calls to expand and upgrade it.
The limitations on the grid have forced the Israel Electric Corporation to reject large numbers of requests for solar installations to be connected.
“One of the main obstacles to meeting the goal of 30% electricity production from renewable energies for the year 2030 is the ability to plan and develop the electricity network at a sufficient pace and in the required volumes,” an introduction to the reform said.
“In light of this, the Authority is proposing a more efficient use of the existing network resources by encouraging the establishment of storage facilities and the flow of energy during the evening and night hours, when the network is free.”
Renewable energy directed into the grid during the evening and night will be paid according to existing tariffs, but with an annual bonus.
Other obstacles to increasing the production of renewable energy include the state’s focus on extracting as much natural gas as possible from large deposits found offshore, and the need both to change regulations and ensure better coordination between the various government ministries and state and other bodies involved.
Among other challenges is competition for land and public opposition to pylons and high-voltage lines near homes or in scenic locations.
Many technologies exist and are being developed for energy storage. These include batteries, thermal energy storage, and the use of water and air.
