Country Overview
The Republic of Lebanon is bordered by Syria, Israel, and the Mediterranean Sea. The population of Lebanon is approximately 5.33 million people.
The Lebanese Civil War took place from 1975 to 1990, resulting in an estimated 120,000 fatalities. Continuing political instability and economic crises have resulted in frequent power outages in Lebanon.
In 2021, Lebanon’s economy was ranked 116th in the world in gross domestic product (GDP). The country’s economy is dependent on the export of gold, diamonds, scrap iron, furniture, and grapes.
Environmental Policies
In 2016, Lebanon signed the Paris Climate Agreement, committing to an unconditional 15% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to a business-as-usual scenario.
In 2018, Lebanon established an energy target of using 30% renewable energy to meet the nation’s energy consumption for electricity and heating by 2030.
Power Generation Capabilities
In 2021, 100% of the people Lebanon access to electricity, although there were frequent power outages. In 2021, Lebanon’s utilities used refined petroleum (61.8%), natural gas (32.7%), and renewable energy (5.5%), to generate electricity in the country. Hydropower and solar are the dominant types of renewable energy used to generate electricity in Lebanon.
Recent renewable energy projects in Lebanon include:
- 14 MW Solar Projects – The Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation recently reported that 865 net-metered rooftop photovoltaic systems were installed in the country in 2020.
- 7 MW Solar Tender – In February 2023, American nonprofit DT Global launched a tender for the design and construction of a utility-scale solar plant in Lebanon.
Conclusions
Lebanon imports all the nation’s refined petroleum and natural gas for transportation, power generation, and heating. In 2021, Lebanon imported U.S. $4.78 Billion just for refined petroleum.
On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, prompting the European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand to place economic sanctions on Russian imports and exports. As a result, the crude oil and natural gas prices increased by over 50% from May 2021 to May 2022.
Lebanon has experienced devastating inflation due to the civil unrest, negative balance of trade, devaluation of the national currency, and volatile fuel prices. Lebanon’s inflation rate soared from 123.5% in January 2023 from 251.5% in July 2023.
Lebanon has significant undeveloped renewable energy resources, including solar, offshore wind, onshore wind, and biomass. However, the nation’s severe financial crisis has limited the government’s ability to even buy fuel to maintain the nation’s power grid, let alone funding for new renewable energy projects.
Lebanon’s frequent power outages have prompted the Lebanese across the country to buy photovoltaic solar panels. Solar is a low-cost, reliable electricity source for the nation’s unreliable and expensive power grid. Economics and reliability are the reasons solar is now booming in Lebanon.
Jack Kerfoot
Website – “Our Energy Conundrum”
www.jackkerfoot.com
Jack Kerfoot is a scientist, energy expert, and author of the book FUELING AMERICA, An Insider’s Journey and articles for The Hill, one of the largest independent political news sites in the United States. He has been interviewed on over 100 radio, podcast, and television stations from New York City to Los Angeles on a diverse range of energy issues.