Israel aims for 1,600 MW of capacity in first solar tenders
The Israeli government has given its approval for expanding solar power capacity by 1,600 MW in three years, largely using rooftop facilities. The power generation will be split into smaller residential photovoltaic facilities with fixed rates and bigger rooftop installations, the latter of which will be offered in auctions held by the Public Utilities Authority, the first such auctions to take place in Israel. These contracts will be for 20 to 25 years. Israel aims to source 10% of its power from renewables by 2020, rising from 3% currently.

The government of Israel has approved a new plan for the addition of 1,600 MW of solar power capacity in three years, mostly on rooftops, Globes reports.

The policy, unveiled by energy and infrastructure minister Yuval Steinitz, aims to lift Israel’s power generation in line with the country’s renewable energy goals. The quota for solar rooftop solar will be divided in two categories -- small residential photovoltaic (PV) facilities and large rooftop business projects. Capacity under the large rooftop scheme will be tendered by the Public Utilities Authority in what will be the first auctions of this kind in Israel.

Projects for small rooftop photovoltaic (PV) installations will not be competing in tenders. They will instead get fixed rates for power sent to the grid.

Contracts for small and large rooftop plants, as well as ground-mounted facilities, will be fixed for a 20- to 25-year period and will be higher for smaller installations, the Public Utilities Authority has said.

Israel has set a target to produce 10% of its total power from renewables by 2020 but currently the share of renewables generation is only 3%. At present, it has 700 MW of projects under construction.

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