The Israeli determination demanding Palestinians inside the west financial institution to obtain permits in the Israeli authorities to construct solar-cells to generate electricity energy, aims at thwarting the Palestinian efforts to self-generate energy and cease the reliance on Israel for it, Sunday mentioned an official.
Basic Director in the Palestinian Energy and Atmosphere Study Centre (PEC), Ayman Ismail, told WAFA the Power & Environment Research Center proposed to the Cabinet a three-year initiative, starting from 2012, to create electrical energy by using solar – cells, during which the solar-cells, with capacity of 150 Megawatts (MW), will be put on rooftops, and from which 1000 houses will benefit.
Six days after proposing the initiative, Israel demanded Palestinians to get special permits that allow them to install solar panels over a required space of 500 square-meters, create power using photoelectric device, and link it to the electricity companies, according to a previous law enacted in 2008 and imposed only in settlements within the West Bank.
The determination also limits the kilowatts allowed for households, schools, hospitals, and others; houses have only 4- 15 kW to cosume, schools and hospitals up to 50 and institutions and farms 50 kW and over.
Ismail stated that they will demand the four companies providing electricity inside the west financial institution not to deal with the Israeli authorities’ procedures concerning this issue.
He added that the Israeli authority has no right to request permits from the Palestinians and that this request must be addressed and rejected completely.
He added that the PEC is raising awareness on the importance of using the solar electrical power in different parts from the west financial institution.
He mentioned, “The proposed three-year initiative consists of three phases, through small projects of 5 kW for each project, to be installed on rooftops, whereas the aim in the initiative for the first year is to get 0.5 MW from 100 houses and then to expand the project for generating 1.5 MW in the following year. In the last year with the project, an additional 3 MW are generated, to reach a total of 5 MW during the three years, initially.”
He indicated that each Palestinian, who installs this system in his house, will receive a distinctive electricity fee and Incentive rewards. This will be done in coordination with Palestinian electrical power regulatory council (PERC), responsible for the organizing on the electrical energy sector in Palestine.
Concerning the usage of your solar electrical power within the Palestinian Territory, Mohammad Al Helu, Founder and Basic Manager at Palestinian Solar & Sustainable Energy Society, mentioned that 79% of the Palestinians use solar-cells on their rooftops, thus save 9% in the Palestinian energy bill through solar power, which is one with the highest rates within the world. It is a Palestinian practice with no legislation or law, he stated.