Why Lebanon Is Having a Surprising Solar Power
Like tens of thousands of Lebanese people, the Mazloums have turned to solar power to generate reliable—and cost
The primary energy use in 2009 in Lebanon was 77 TWh, 18 MWh per capita. In 2019, the total solar PV capacity was 78 MW, and it reached 1300 MW at the end of 2023. Mtoe = 11.63 TWh, Prim. energy includes energy losses. Fossil fuels, primarily petroleum, provide the overwhelming majority of Lebanon's energy supply.
In response to the energy crisis, Lebanon has seen a significant increase in solar power installations. The expansion of solar energy has been supported by the Net Metering policy adopted by EDL, which simplifies the legal and technical processes for individuals and companies to install solar systems.
That goal of encouraging renewable energy in Lebanon has been aided by the fact that solar power is now the most affordable way to generate electricity around the world. The cost has dropped by more than 90% over the past decade, thanks to rapid technology gains and a glut in solar-panel production.
In particular, almost all energy in Lebanon comes from imported petroleum. In 2023 Lebanon produced and consumed energy as follows (in units of quadrillion BTU): Electricity was first introduced in Lebanon in the early 20th century, primarily to power the capital's tramways.
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