The move intends to generate an additional 1,600 megawatts of electricity and help Israel move toward its goal to produce 10% of its power from alternative sources
Ora Cohen Nov 27, 2017 5:07 AM

The Energy Ministry and Electricity Authority on Sunday unveiled a new program aimed at making it easier for Israeli households and other electricity consumers to install solar panels and sell back power to the grid.

The intent of the move is to generate an additional 1,600 megawatts of electricity and help Israel catch up toward the goal of producing 10% of its power from alternative sources, such as solar and wind, by the year 2020. Israel had set a target of 5% in the year 2014 but three years later it is still generating just 2% of its power from alternative sources.

Israeli households have been allowed to install rooftop panels, but they could only sell the power back to the state-owned Israel Electric Corporation in exchange for a discount on their electric bill. With the average monthly bill amounting to just 750 shekels ($214) that severely limited the amount of power a household could generate and sell.

Under the new program, consumers will be able to generate and sell back as much power as they want and will be paid in cash instead in the form of a discount.

In addition, the new program will make it easier for consumers to get approvals for installations and to link up to the power grid. It will also allow entrepreneurs to install panels on roofs or on open land.

Combined with falling prices for solar panels, the Electricity Authority said the new program should make it much more financial viable for consumers to install them and generate power for resale or for their own use.
read more: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.825143