Energy in Israel

Solar field, Kibbutz Elifaz, Israel
Energy consumption by source, Israel

Most energy in Israel comes from fossil fuels. The country's total primary energy demand is significantly higher than its total primary energy production, relying heavily on imports to meet its energy needs. Total primary energy consumption was 304 TWh (1.037 quad) in 2016, or 26.2 million tonne of oil equivalent.[1]

Electricity consumption in Israel was 57,149 GWh in 2017, while production was 64,675 GWh, with net exports of 4.94 TWh.[2] The installed generating capacity was about 16.25 GW in 2014, almost all from fossil fuel power stations, mostly coal and gas fueled.[3] Renewable energy accounted for a minor share of electricity production, with a small solar photovoltaic installed capacity. However, there are a total of over 1.3 million solar water heaters installed as a result of mandatory solar water heating regulations.

In 2018, 70% of electricity came from natural gas, and 4% from renewables, of which 95% was solar PV.[4]

In 2020, the government committed that by 2030, renewables should reach 30%.[5] This target was further revised in 2021, when Israel pledged at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) to phasing out coal for energy generation by 2025, and reaching net zero for greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The transportation sector has historically relied almost entirely on petroleum derived fuels, as both private motorcars and public transit buses used to overwhelmingly rely on gasoline or diesel - and still do, despite efforts to change this.[6] However, Israel is undertaking a mobility transition[7] which includes the electrification of the Israel Railways network[8] (beginning with the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem railway in 2018) and the construction of Jerusalem light rail (opened 2011), public transit cablecars in Haifa and Tel Aviv light rail.[9] In 2018 Israel set the target date for the phase-out of fossil fuel vehicles (i.e. an end to future sales of new fossil fuel powered vehicles) for 2030.[10][11]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference eia was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference cbs-energy-2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference ciawf was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ PVPS annual report, 2018 Archived 16 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine, p.72
  5. ^ Surkes, S. (2020) Cabinet greenlights target of 30% renewable energy by 2030, Times of Israel 25 October 2020, https://www.timesofisrael.com/cabinet-greenlights-target-of-30-renewable-energy-by-2030/ Archived 31 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Transport in Israel: The progress of electric buses and vehicles". 28 May 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Israel to host Smart Mobility Summit next week". 2 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Israel Railways electrification". Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Press Releases". Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Israel Will Ban Gasoline & Diesel Vehicles After 2030". 11 November 2018. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Israel aims for zero new gasoline, diesel-powered vehicles by 2030". Reuters. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.