Renewable Energy

Given its lack of natural resources, Israel has relied since its establishment almost exclusively on imported fossil fuels, especially oil and coal.  

Even major offshore discoveries of natural gas near the Mediterranean coast in the summer of 2010 have not diverted the country’s public decision makers and private investors from the fact that it makes economic and environmental sense to develop technologies that can use renewable energy resources.

Israel is the world leader in the use of solar energy per capita with 85% of households using solar thermal systems.

The world's rising demand for alternative energy sources focused Israel's attention on solar energy power for decades. Starting in the 1950's, Israel created flat plate solar systems for water heating. Applying this technology throughout the nation, Israel is the world leader in the use of solar energy per capita with 85% of households using solar thermal systems, the highest per capita use of solar energy in the world, and 4% of Israel's energy capacity being generated by solar. Israel-based SolarEdge boosts photovoltaic (PV) system output to enable cost efficient production of up to 25% more energy from any PV installation. Israel's Luz, today a subsidiary of BrightSource, pioneered solar-thermal technology and built the world's largest solar plant of its kind in the Mojave desert. Israel was one of the first nations to effectively and comprehensively include solar energy in everyday energy consumption.  

Israel is at the forefront of creating energy from waste. Israeli company Applied Cleantech recycles sewage to produce a material called recyllose, which the company then uses to make up to 135 gallons of ethanol per ton. Using Microbial Fuel Cell technology.  Another company, Emefcy, is also making its mark in clean energy by producing low cost electricity ($0.10 / kWhr) and hydrogen in a bio-electro-chemical process from wastewater treatment. TransBioDiesel's enzymatic process increases the profitability of biodiesel production from recycled greases, animal fats, and plant oils by 15%-25%. Concurrently, TransBioDiesel also works to ensure that it creates only a chemically clean bi-product. 

Israel also builds on previous inventions and works to improve their efficiency. Powersines and Phoebus Energy are two examples of Israeli companies working to improve greater global energy efficiency. Powersines Lightning Energy Controllers (LEC) enable dynamic voltage regulation and power consumption optimization that save between 20% and 35% of electricity in lightning, while Phoebus Energy's hybrid heat pump system integrates with existing oil-based systems saving 50%-70% of oil and reducing pollution by 80%-90%.     

Today, Israel’s Cleantech industry is producing some of the world’s largest and most efficient power systems that generate electricity from sunlight, heat stored deep in the earth’s crust, and bio-fuels.  Israel’s field proven alternative energy technologies will continue to catalyze the progress of sustainable development. 

Israeli Companies in the Sector: