Israeli water giant Mekorot launches a nationwide solar tender to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and meet infrastructure needs.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFFJANUARY 20, 2025

Israel’s national water company, Mekorot, is continuing its push into renewable energy, issuing a tender for the supply, installation, and maintenance of photovoltaic systems across the country. These systems will be installed on ten buildings and water reservoirs as part of Mekorot’s strategic goals to enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

The winning bidder will oversee the planning, equipment supply, system installation, monitoring, and maintenance of the solar arrays for a five-year period. Installation and integration of the facilities are slated to occur throughout 2025.

This initiative builds on Mekorot’s existing efforts to expand its use of renewable energy sources. Among the company’s notable projects is the generation of hydroelectric power through turbines installed along large-diameter water transmission pipelines, leveraging elevation differences to produce electricity.
Additionally, Mekorot has been increasing its procurement of “green” electricity. In late 2024, the company partnered with EDF-EN at the Granot site near Ashkelon to source electricity from solar panels, supplying approximately one-third of the site’s energy needs.

The water sector remains one of Israel’s largest electricity consumers, accounting for 4-5% of the country’s total power consumption. This energy is critical for operating desalination plants, water treatment facilities, and the distribution of fresh water and wastewater.

Mekorot’s energy costs have risen in recent years due to the development of new infrastructure for water supply across various regions of the country. Currently, these costs amount to approximately NIS 850 million annually and are expected to grow with ongoing water sector expansion, including connecting underserved areas in the north, east, and Arava regions.

Mekorot’s continued investments in renewable energy aim to reduce operational costs, diversify electricity sources, and lower the company’s environmental carbon footprint. These efforts align with Israel’s broader sustainability goals and demonstrate the company’s leadership in integrating sustainable practices into critical national infrastructure.

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