Workshop Entitled: "Palestinian Strategy for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency"

The Acting Chairman of the Palestinian Energy Authority, Dr.
Omar Kattanah, confirmed that the Strategic Plan for Renewable Energy
encourages those interested in installing solar panels on the roofs of their
homes. These panels generate electric power with a capacity of 5 kW per house.  Dr. Kattanah announced the opening of the
first station to generate electric power in Jericho next May, funded by the
Japanese government. This station will be the first plant to generate electric
power from solar energy in large quantities.

This came during a workshop organized by the Faculty of
Engineering at BZU, the Palestinian Center for Energy and Environmental
Research and the Palestinian Energy Authority, in cooperation with the French
Development Agency (AFD) on 25 February 2012.  

The workshop aimed to present and discuss the Palestinian
strategy in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency, in which Dr. Kattanah
overviewed the National Strategy for Renewable Energy and the National Plan for
Energy Efficiency. The event was attended by BZU President, Dr. Khalil Hindi; the
Engineering Faculty Dean, Dr. Afif Hasan; Secretary General of Palestine Academy for Science and Technology, Dr. Imad Khatib; as
well as representatives of institutions and private sector companies, in
addition to BZU engineering students.

In his opening address, Dr. Hindi affirmed that the fact that
the Energy Authority is holding this workshop at BZU confirms its commitment to
cooperation and partnership with the University in applying this plan and
ensuring its success.

Kattanah pointed to a set of procedures addressing the public
that benefit from electric power and other energy sources, which will assist
them in achieving optimal use of this power. These procedures
are either technical or in the form of equipment that will be provided to them,
as well as legislation and laws to encourage the community to conserve energy.

Kattanah urged the private sector to provide necessary
equipment for energy efficiency and rationalization, while calling on the
government to enact laws and legislation that facilitate the provision of these
devices and their exemption from taxes to reduce the cost. He added: "The
reduction of electricity prices is linked to accelerating the diversification
of energy sources in Palestine, which will also lead to gradual independence from
the Israeli Electricity Company. The renewable energy strategy of the Energy Authority
for the next three years (2012 – 2015) seeks to contribute to the achievement
of this independence in the best possible way."