In a bid for what may become the largest solar energy field in Israel, nine proposals from 11 companies have been submitted to the Finance and Energy Ministries. The new project comes on Israel’s immediate need to reduce greenhouse gases, and increase its renewable energy use, and Energy Minister Karin Elharrar says that “The Israeli government must enlist in the battle against the climate crisis in all areas, first and foremost through the promotion of renewable energy.”
The solar project has set three thousand acres near Dimona, in Southern Israel, to plan and operate a solar field to ease Israel’s overconsumption of energy and create photovoltaic solar energy to store en masse. With large storage units, Israel can begin to use the powerful sun energy to lower the amount of energy used at night. This project is on par with Israel’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gases by 17% by 2030.
Of the nine proposals submitted, seven were Israeli companies, and two were joint proposals. Energix, Keren Noy, Shikun VeBinui, Alumni-Phoenix, Elior-Allied, Shafir-Almore, and Meshakim are from Israel. Invenergy is a US-based company. The two joint proposals were made by Skatek-Solgarin with Norway and Keystone-Solar Park with Spain. Whichever wins the bid will be responsible to plan, build and operate the solar field, expected to launch by the end of 2024. Set up as a public-private partnership, the company will have ownership for 25 years and then will turn it over to the state. A proposal should be chosen within three months.
Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman says “This is an innovative breakthrough project in the Israeli energy market. The success of this project will pave the way for the implementation of more technologies and major storage facilities that can replace polluting power stations in the future and assist the state’s goal for renewable energy.”
