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Israel’s Gets Country’s ‘Largest’ Solar Project

Belectric and Solel Boneh call the 120 MW solar power plant in Israel they commissioned through their EPC joint venture as the country’s largest PV project. (Photo Credit: Belectric)

Anu Bhambhani
  • Innogy subsidiary Belectric and Solel Boneh of Shikun & Binui have announced successful commissioning of their solar power plant in Israel with 120 MW capacity
  • The project is located in Zeelim village in Israel and is expected to produce 220 GWh of solar power annually
  • This is the German company's 25th solar project in Israel where it has been operating around 270 MW since 2013
  • Encouraged by the success of renewable energy and the cost reduction, the Israeli Energy Ministry is currently considering increasing the country's renewable energy target from 17% to be achieved by 2030

As a 120 MW PV power project in Israel has started commercial operations, it has become the country's 'largest solar project', announced Belectric. The subsidiary of Germany's power company innogy provided its EPC services as part of a EPC joint venture with local company Solel Boneh.

The project was built for Shikun & Binui Renewable Energy Ltd., the renewable energy arm of Israeli infrastructure and real estate group, Shikun & Binui.

Build near Zeelim village, the 120 MW project is expected to generate more than 220 GWh of clean power annually. Belectric Israel will provide its operation and maintenance services to the plant. This is the German company's 25th solar project in Israel where it has been operating around 270 MW since 2013.

The project was connected to the grid in October 2019, when The Jerusalem Post reported that the location of this plant was first approved for a solar thermal power plant but was later cleared to host a PV plant instead. It has been built with an investment of close to NIS 600 million ($170 million), according to the report.

In December 2018, GTM reported Israel was aiming to have 17% share of renewable energy in its total electricity mix by the year 2030 with a concrete PV target of 6 GW; at the time of the report , it already had an installed PV capacity of over 1 GW (see Israel Targets 6 GW PV By 2030).

The Ministry of Energy is mulling increasing this target to between 25% to 30% given the progress of the energy economy in the country and reduction in electricity generation costs from renewable energy. In 2018, renewable energy accounted for 4% of the Israel's electricity generation with a mid-term target of 10% by 2020 expected to be achieved driven by rooftop solar, among other factors.