Lebanon's Energy Pulse 2021

THE EXCLUSIVE
Lebanon's Energy Pulse

Extensive Editorial Supplement
SUCCESS STORY:
While the world was on pause,
he pressed FastForward
GLIMPSE OF HOPE:
The NEW Water Strategy
in Lebanon
UPCOMING EVENTS:
ENERGY EFFICIENCY MARATHON
"FROM BEIRUT TO THE WORLD"
February 2021 | the-exclusive.digital

CONTENTS
INTERVIEWS
H.E. RAYMOND GHAJAR, FORMER

MINISTER OF ENERGY AND WATER
DR. TONY ISSA, VICE-PRESIDENT ITP
SARAH MORSI, REGIONAL DIRECTOR AFD
RABIH OSTA, GENERAL MANAGER

PHOENIX ENERGY
GUEST EXPERTS
THE ARGUMENT
BIFACIAL VERTICAL PANELS WHY NOT LEBANON, REALLY WHY NOT?
ARRANGEMENTS
USE OF SMART MATERIAL FOR SUCCESS STORY:

BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY
WHILE THE WORLD WAS ON
PAUSE, HE PRESSED FAST
THE ROLE OF CYBERSECURITY IN THE FORWARD
ENERGY SECTOR
FEATURES
REESTART PROGRAM
ENERGY STRATEGIES SUMMIT 2020:

MAPPING THE FUTURE
REGEND BY ESCWA GLIMPSE OF HOPE: INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY:
THE NEW WATER AN ALTERNATIVE

UPCOMING EVENTS: STRATEGY IN LEBANON EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
FOR LEBANON
ENERGY EFFICIENCY MARATHON:
FROM BEIRUT TO THE WORLD
THE FUTURE OF INFRASTRUCTURE

the-exclusive.digital
"Ma fi kahraba kermal
el may sokhni,
bet7amam bokra"
There are two types of people in Lebanon: The ones who (yes, again), a new future-ex Prime Minister; I
think a change is needed and it can happen, through hard can understand both categories. Maybe even
work and cooperation, and the ones who complain, and think we are in a Sci-Fi series and wonder what
wait for an "extraterrestrial" invasion that might save the director has planned for the next season!
Lebanon, form a new government and make it great But have we learned anything? Earth took a
again! break from us, and it clearly liked it. I can`t
After more than 24 months in Lebanon or better said, stop wondering why (ironically speaking).
after a year (of the non-government, inefficient new What about us, though? Did we realize how
government), the revolution, the resignation of the fragile human systems are, yet? Did we realize
government, the fall of the holy banking system, the new that we are relying on particular
government, the dollar peg that thinks it is an astronaut circumstances? We know that if the climate
and skyrockets, the birth of the “Lollar” (ask Dan Azzi changes, most of our processes won`t work in
about it), the pandemic that messed up literally the the future and we have noticed that now, in a
whole world (we are sure that no Lebanese politician was couple of months, our power to adapt to special
involved in this), the worst economic crisis in the circumstances.
history of Lebanon, the “Boom” (neutral term used to Did we learn that the political leaders are not
define the 4th of August Explosion, in order to avoid God or the Superheroes that might save the day
feeling stupid for calling it “an accident”_and being yet? Or are we still blindfolded? What about
accused of assuming things without any evidence for Lebanese miracles? Is it still trending? Just
calling it “an attack”), the resignation of the government asking for a friend!
THE ARGUMENT
WHY NOT, LEBANON?
Nations Framework Convention

Let`s go back a bit and remember what 2020 should have been
for the Energy sector. For those who don’t know or forgot: In
2009, during the Conference of Parties (COP) to the United
on Climate Change
In 2012, Nicaragua invested the fifth-highest percentage
worldwide of its GDP in developing renewable energies.
Their target is 90% renewable energy by 2020, with the
majority of electricity coming from wind, solar and
(UNFCCC), the Lebanese Government committed to increasing g e ot h e r m a l s o u r c e s .
the share of renewables in the country to 12% of the projected Germany produced in the first half of 2018 enough
total electricity and heat demand by 2020. renewable energy to power every home in the country a
Ambitious, considering the lack of renewable energy projects whole year. Their target is 65% renewable energy by 2030,
in Lebanon at that moment. In late 2018, Prime Minister Saad even if we are talking about a not-so-sunny country of
Hariri has ushered in a new renewable energy target of 30% more the 80 million people.
for the year 2030. Well done, we applaud your high dreams, Denmark gets over half of its electricity from wind and
but on what grounds? How do we get there? Or committing to solar power and in 2017, 43% of its electricity consumption
a target is like a Hocus-Pocus spell and with a secretly magic was from wind – a new world record! That’s the highest
wound (secret weapon used by Lebanese Government “to percentage of wind power ever achieved worldwide. The
solve" problems by pretending it doesn`t exist) it turns into country aims to be 100% fossil-fuel-free by 2050.
reality and solar panels, wind farms appear and people will Uruguay, almost 100 % powered by renewables, almost
wake up of energy efficiency and …? Because, in that case, after less than 10 years of effort. How is Lebanon after 10
something went wrong with the spell! Most of the people have years?
read “The Secret – The Law of Attraction”, some might have All of the above, and other, had strategies and plans that
just seen the movie, but don`t get fooled by the “visualize were implemented to get to that percentage. It wasn’t luck
your desires and they will come true”. I am pretty sure that or a better spell or visualization, but it was a good strategy
does not work with electricity or renewable energy, or any and implementation of the regulations needed. Most of you,
other energy reforms, for that matter. especially if Lebanese, will say: but we had a war, and we
For those wondering: NO, it doesn`t work for economic and had 1,5 million refugees, and we had/have political issues,
financial problems either. The real world actually works in and we did not have a president for a while, and corruption,
another way, and I will give an example, or two, or even more. the problems with the grid, external debts. And I keep
Over the past 5 years, Costa Rica has achieved 95% renewable forgetting “Lebanese mentality” and all the nonsense that
electricity. Their target was entirely carbon-neutral in 2021. makes you sleep better in the night! All the excuses are not
REALLY,
e n o u g h t o co v e r t h e l a c k o f c l e a r - d e c i s i o n
making, will to make things work, a supportive
regulatory environment, a strong partnership
between the public and private sector, or else,
WHY NOT?
today, we would be having at least one functional
wind farm more than 60 MW of solar plants, at
least a solar concentrated power plant in the
making (I didn’t even consider being functional,
but in the making would be good), a National
Energy Authority (considering Law 462 exists
BY PUBLISHER since 2002), a passed Energy Conservation Law,
and who knows, maybe we would have even had
the smart electricity that some ministers were
dreaming of, back in 2018.
2020, the year in which you promised us (for the
100th time) 24 hours per day electricity, like in
the American movies, we got the worst economic
crisis in decades, a banking system that even God
with all its angels would have to struggle to get
back to the Ground Floor, a Lebanese Lira that is
worthless and people are starving and stuck. And
with all your gifts, you still waste money on bad
fuel (that evaporates), with no actual hopes in
sight to use on a larger scale the abundance of
sun, wind and water. And no, you are not allowed
to blame this on COVID-19! Yes, I am talking to
you, those currently holding the rains!
Lebanon, wake up! Pardon me, future
representatives of the Government, you are not
capable of solving the energy problem by
yourself! But, we have the professionals and the
experts that can deliver competitive ideas and
strategies and can manage profitable businesses
at a global level, why not use them on a national
level, instead of waiting for aliens?
On another note, we all appreciate the small
efforts that are being made to support the private
sector in the transition for a greener future! But,
still, let us not forget that in energy, staying
inside your box condemns you to irrelevance
(this could mean that having the same inefficient
energy strategy and holding on to it for the last
10 years, might just not work)!
Raluca Buna
THE ARGUMENT
"Developers' appetite
towards investing in the
various sectors, especially
in the energy sector, has
diminished"
Raymond Ghajar served as the Minister of Energy and Water from
21 January to 10 August 2020, in the cabinet of Hassan Diab.
What type of adaptive measures did the Developers' appetite towards investing in the
Ministry of Energy and Water need, in various sectors, especially in the energy
2020? What were the lessons of this sector, has diminished and has become
period? subject to the provision of guarantees from
multilateral agencies or sovereign guarantees
The political and financial situation of the which are not available under the extremely
country in 2020 coupled with COVID-19 left challenging fiscal situation the country is
the ministry of energy and water with no presently facing. Hence, the prerequisite of
option but to pursue its investment plans any infrastructure project is having minimum
using direct negotiations with original
financial stability and vision towards the
equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in
creditworthiness of the country.
collaboration with their government to
secure financing. Traditional bidding
What transformations you expect, their
processes were not possible under the
effects on the Lebanese energy sector, and
financial default condition that Lebanon was
in a regional perspective?
facing. Unfortunately, these measures
proved to be unsuccessful due to the
insistence of all multilaterals to implement Given the high fuel cost of conventional
significant reforms in the sector prior to any thermal-based generation and the relatively
investments. rapid evolution of renewable energy
technologies and their associated low-level
What is the status of the current energy costs, there should be increased
projects/initiatives planned for 2020-2021? reliance on such Renewable Energy sources
What strategies should be implemented to reduce the need for exportable foreign
in order to support the private sector? currency. I think RE are able to provide
sustainable and affordable energy supply in to resume their works and work on
the region at competitive prices. repairing the building damages ASAP.
We also have to reinstate the national
How affected was the energy sector by control center to enable us to control
the latest event in Lebanon and what are the electrical grid and to restore works
the immediate actions that should be on the customers’ service floor.
taken? Electricity to the area most affected by
the blast was restored within two weeks
The situation in the country post-October 17, for all occupied buildings and homes.
2019 coupled with the deterioration of the Normal services are gradually being
financial situation had already heavily supplied to all those who request it
strained the energy sector (big drop in after ensuring safety before re-
billing collections, inability to continue the energization.
reduction of non-technical losses, loss of
investment appetite…). The blast of Aug. 4 What is the message that you would
completely destroyed the EDL building like to send to the Lebanese people?
including the national control center, the
220kV Achrafieh substation was also Lebanese people have survived many
severely damaged in addition to the loss of tragedies throughout history. They have
3 precious lives and more than 30 injuries always managed to steadfastly rise from
including under the rubble because of their faith
the EDL general manager. in this country. I have high hopes that
Immediate steps include procuring a Lebanon will rise up and shine again, by
temporary location for EDL employees to putting all our hands together.
"Renewables are able to

provide sustainable and
affordable energy supply in the
region at competitive prices"
THE LEBANESE CENTER FOR
ENERGY CONSERVATION (LCEC)
Efficient Resources,
Sustainable Achievements
ABOUT LCEC
The Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC) is an independent organization within the Ministry of
Energy and Water (MEW) in Lebanon.
LCEC established itself as an independent technical national center offering the Lebanese Government and more
specifically the MEW all kinds of services dedicated to energy efficiency and renewable energy.
LCEC’s vision is to be a prominent center of excellence building a resilient and sustainable energy future for all.
LCEC’s mission is to lead the efforts of Lebanon in the development of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
to increase energy security and de-carbonization levels. We proactively develop policies, implement projects,
and shape the market in harmony with the global sustainable energy transition.
To know more about LCEC:
www.lcec.org.lb
00961(01)565108
energy@lcec.org.lb @LCEC.lebanon @LCEC.tweets

LCEC'S WORK
LCEC, with its highly professional and hard-working team, has succeeded in establishing itself as a
technical point of reference specialized in energy conservation issues within the MEW. LCEC targets
fundamental energy issues and its experts are determined to make LCEC the ideal and trusted leader
in innovating programs delivering results that exceed the set goals.
LCEC works on setting national strategies and action plans to be adopted by the Lebanese
Government; as well as on the implementation and the quality control of national projects and
initiatives in the country. LCEC is also involved in the update and development of the legal and
administrative framework needed for the greening of the energy sector. Until date, LCEC has
implemented numerous energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and initiatives that have
resulted in many positive changes within the Lebanese society and economy.
At the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Summit, Lebanon voluntarily pledged to increase the renewable
energy share to 12% by 2020. This voluntary commitment was anchored within the “Policy Paper for
the Electricity Sector” prepared by the MEW and officially adopted by the Council of Ministers in
June 2010. The policy paper includes ten strategic initiatives for the improvement of infrastructure,
supply and demand systems and the definition of legal framework. Two key initiatives target
respectively the renewable energy and the demand side management/ energy efficiency.
Developed by the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC), adopted in August 2010 by MEW
and approved in November 2011 by the Lebanese Government, the National Energy Efficiency Action
Plan (NEEAP) for Lebanon 2011-2015 summarizes all national objectives, programmes and policies in
14 independent but correlated initiatives in the energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors.
NEEAP was prepared in conformance with the Arab EE guideline (based on the EU directive
2006/32/EC on energy end-use efficiency and energy service) and Lebanon was the first Arab
country to officially adopt such plan. Subsequently, LCEC has updated the NEEAP 2011-2015 and has
prepared a second NEEAP for 2016-2020 and the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP)
for 2016-2020.
The NEEAP (2016-2020) includes a number of energy efficiency initiatives targeting the different
sector of the Lebanese economy. These initiatives are distributed along two axes dedicated to
primary energy savings and end-use measures.
The NREAP (2016-2020) is the main national document that will ideally lead the way for Lebanon to
develop the different RE technologies needed to reach the 12% target by the year 2020.
LCEC is currently developing the NEEAP (2021-2025) and the NREAP (2021-2025) which will include
an evaluation of the previous action plans and a projection till 2025 and beyond.
Moreover, LCEC provides both the public and private sector with expert advice, finance and
accreditation, develops energy efficiency standards and labels, and provides national energy database
indicators.
LCEC is successful in establishing partnerships with the private and public sectors and in representing
Lebanon in the international arena. LCEC is the national focal point for Lebanon in the Regional
Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), the League of Arab States (LAS), the
EU-funded MED-ENEC project, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the
Mediterranean Solar Plan (MSP), the UNEP-funded En-Lighten initiative. LCEC also represents the
Lebanon Committee of the World Energy Council (WEC)..
@LCEC.insta lceclebanon
When most people hear the words ‘solar power’ they instantly think of good old solar panels on
rooftops or in a solar farm in the desert. And with good reason: traditional utility-scale and rooftop solar
panels have dominated the solar market until this point. But, there are some promising technologies that
will revolutionize the way we think about not just solar, but energy production in general. Solar no longer
requires large parcels of land or roof space, nor does it need to look boring. Take a look of these amazing
projects that will change the way you look at solar panels.
The New ERA of Solar Panels!
"WORLD'S FIRST RIVER SOLAR SNAKE"
Generating 1,655 Mega Watt Hour per year (MWhr/yr)
emissions, the positive environmental impact of the project
Use 600 poly christaline PV panels supplied by the Provide 100% availability, thus able to run 365 days of
partner of Phoenix Energy and Yingli Energy, the the year without interruption, as the maintenance of the
number one PV panel manufacturer in the world plant could be carried after sunset
Include a full weather station with data logging capacity Incorporate a remote monitoring system with remote
Feature state-of-the-art structural design, unique in the trouble shooting
Middle East, combining a primary concrete structure Use 60 inverters with an expandable topology, designed
and a secondary steal structure in a decentralized manner
Consist of a display panel visible to the public showing Feature High-level security with a 3 meter fencing around
the current production, the savings in KWhr and in the plant and CCTV cameras in addition to around the
carbon clock security personnel
LEBANON,
DO YOU
REMEMBER
HOW HIGH
YOU WANTED
TO FLY?
“The three most important ways to LEAD people are:
by example… by example… by example” (Albert
Schweitzer)
Back in 2014 the installed capacity of distributed PV solar

systems in Lebanon was of 4 MWp. After the
commissioning of the first phase of the BRSS in 2015,
Lebanon witnessed an increase in solar systems
installed of 52 MWp in only 3 years. The $3.4 million
contract was awarded to a joint venture between local firms
Asaco and Phoenix and it is first grid-connected medium
voltage (MV) solar photovoltaic (PV) system in the history
of Lebanon. The implementation of the first phase has an
installed capacity of one MW extending from the Yerevan
Bridge to the Nahr Bridge over an area of 16,000 m2.
The objectives of the project are to promote renewable
energy and energy efficiency in Lebanon and reduce the
large existing gap between supply and demand and
regardless of any comments that might have been made
about this project, the “World`s First Solar Snake” clearly The project was designed to be built over ten phases, but
had a remarkable impact on the market. unfortunately, even if Electricite du Liban (EDL) has launched the
The project is a solar farm covering a distance of 6.5 Km tender to implement the second phase of the Beirut River Solar
of the Beirut River that generates and supplies EDL with Snake, back in 2018, the project is now on hold and considering
clean energy from the sun’s radiations to eventually meet the current COVID-19, economic and political crisis, it will
the energy needs of around 10,000 households. probably take a while until the project will be completed.
_______________________________
Cover Story
Interview with Mrs. Radia Sedaoui. Chief of the Energy Section at ESCWA
"REGEND is currently preparing for

What type of adaptive measures the company / project
needed? What were the lessons of this period?
the implementation of six small-scale
A challenge commonly faced in Lebanon is the lack of
RE field projects in rural Akkar"
adequate and reliable data and the need for the tedious process
of collecting data through field surveys in different sectors. and transmission infrastructure.
ESCWA, through the REGEND project, faced this challenge What is the status of your current project(s) and investments
during the design phase of the small-scale renewable energy planned for 2020-2021? Which are the advantages of your
(RE) field projects in rural Akkar which took more time than business and products, going forward?
expected. The low quality and the frequency of electricity REGEND is currently preparing for the implementation of six small-
rationing and blackout, especially in Akkar, required a more scale RE field projects in rural Akkar, namely Akkar Al-Atika and
sophisticated solar photovoltaic (PV) system design which Chaqdouf. The beneficiaries of the projects are the agri-food, the
incorporates batteries and splits the electricity generated beekeeping, and the agricultural supplies cooperatives in Akkar Al-
between feeding the loads and charging the batteries. This Atika and the Live Akkar organization in Chaqdouf. The projects
required more data collection from the loads. Moreover, the consist of on-grid and off-grid solar photovoltaic systems, solar
complexity of the electrical setup in the targeted buildings and water heating systems, and energy efficient lighting renovation
the interconnection of the buildings with private generators which will greatly reduce energy consumption and cost. Equally
also necessitated the collection of more data so that the important, REGEND supplied the aforementioned entities with
system's size and modes of operation can be fully optimized productive equipment and capacity-building trainings to broaden
for sustainable operation. their skills and improve and enhance their income-generating
Another challenge pertaining to data collection in Lebanon activities.
reflects the quality and interpretation of this data. For example, The harmonized combination of the field projects, the productive
while electricity access shows 100% availability all over equipment, and the capacity-building trainings were customized to
Lebanon, this data point does not really reflect the country's match the rural beneficiaries’ activities so that they are utilized in
planned and unplanned service disruptions due to the highly the most effective manner to reduce time, effort, and cost and hence
inadequate infrastructure and insufficient generation capacity increase productivity, efficiency, and revenue. This integrated
business model will prove crucial in sustainably creating Overall, Lebanon still needs to decouple its energy consumption from
rural economic growth with clean energy as an enabler. its economic development, despite its current efforts to improve
What are your expectations from the public sector, state energy productivity by developing several energy efficiency
projects to support future business? programmes. These programmes were bundled in two National Energy
Efficiency Action Plans (NEEAPs) covering the periods 2011–2015
Lebanon’s crises series create new policy drivers
and 2016–2020. The second NEEAP builds on initiatives developed
emphasizing the need for an integrated rural development
for the first one by focusing on 26 energy efficiency measures. These
strategy. These drivers include ensuring food security,
are expected to reduce power growth from 7 percent to 5.8 percent by
promoting sustainable and equitable growth, alleviating
2020.
economic pressure and trade imbalance, creating jobs and
On the renewable energy front, Lebanon needs to reconsider its
reducing unemployment, developing more inclusive policy
electricity tariff structure, define a national plan for renewable
and consultation, and the recent institutional support for
energy equipment manufacturing and profit from existing industries
rural development.
to create local renewable energy components manufacturing.
The public sector is hence required to develop a strategy
Another key area to transform is to involve national centres in the
with the objective of creating rural economic growth, of
practice of inspecting and testing locally manufactured components
which affordable and clean energy is an enabler. A rural
based on international standards.
development framework is also required to be developed and
adopted to govern rural development and to incorporate What is your message to partners?
climate change and environmental laws and include an ESCWA firmly believes that the promotion, demonstration, and
agriculture regulation integrating the food security law. dissemination of integrated business models based on the transfer of
Financing mechanisms such as soft loans should also be know-how rather than relying on the short-lived handout model is
developed with the local and international finance institutes crucial to sustainably creating economic growth in rural areas. Hence,
to alleviate the barriers for women economic inclusion. all stakeholders active in the aforementioned sectors can play an
What transformations you expect in your sector, their immense role in this regard. As these business models bear fruit, policy
effects for the Lebanese economy and in a regional makers need to accompany and support them with the needed strategies
perspective? (in areas like prices, costs, supply chain, and frameworks to further develop and strengthen them towards mass
technology disruption, financing, HR, safety & security) adoption and application.

WHILE THE WORLD

WAS ON PAUSE,

HE PRESSED FFW
Somewhere, in North-Eastern Lebanon, near the
Syrian borders, there is a small village in the
Baalbeck-Hermel Governorate, called Qaa. Until now,
Qaa was known for things like the kidnapping of a
former in 2012, an attack by suicide bombers in 2016,
for an archaeological site - type site - of the Sheperd
Neolithic Industry and also for being lightly cultivated
with a thin soil covering conglomerates. Starting
2020, Qaa will also be known for being an example of
agricultural uses of solar energy.
In a time of global Lockdown, in the middle of the

worst Lebanese economic crises in decades, HE, Said
Riachi, an electrical engineer from Zahle, gave us the
biggest lessons of all: if there is will, there is a way.
One of the biggest problems of the area is the
unavailability of the national electricity grid, so diesel
gen-sets were used to power the water pump system.
Considering the unstable situation of the country and

the fear of diesel shortage, the owner was easily
convinced to implement solar water pumping system,
even though “fresh money” had to be used for its
financing, especially because “currently, in Lebanon,
diesel is a scarce commodity, and the decision taken
was proved to be the right decision. In this case, it
was not only about saving money by saving fuel, but it
was also and most importantly about survival by being
able to water the trees when diesel was not available”.
The 3.7 MWp off-grid system has a total area serviced
of almost 2.5 million square meters, a PV installation NO FUEL,
of 20.000 square meters and the modules used are
from tier 1 suppliers. All electric components are NO HASSLE
from the global technology leader, EATON.
According to Said, “the main challenge in this

particular project was to have longer operating hours
at a constant flow of water. For the owner, and since
drip irrigation is used, constant flow is a must, that is
why, the system was designed to automatically use
BENEFITS OF
help from the generator in case water is needed in low THE PROJECT:
light conditions. All protective measures are
implemented, but another challenge was that, the
operation of the system is complex and the user in 1. Fuel cost savings
many cases is an illiterate person, so simplification was 2. No matter what
needed. We came up with a system that can run all by happens, the sun will
itself, all the operator has to do is flip a switch to start rise every morning
pumping water and flip it back to stop.” and the pumps will
"The potential for renewables in run. the farm became
less dependant on
Lebanon is huge. All we need is fuel availability.
3. Reduction in
some stability in the country
emissions from
and we will do wonders." diesel engines
4. Noise reduction -
this was the most
pleasant effect to the
owner of the project.
"Our project was a

complete success, and
many farmers who
visited the site are
seriously considering
solar pumping as a
condition for survival."
THE FLOATI NG SOLAR FARM I N
HUAI NAN, CHI NA I S MADE UP OF
160, 000 PANELS, ATTACHED TO
EACH OTHER I N A HUGE MOSAI C
STRUCTURE. ©STR / AFP
THE FUTURE OF SOLAR –

WHERE ARE WE HEADED?
Nowadays, technologies are changing rapidly and Solar technologies have evolved a lot since they first
enhancing human life by providing alternative solutions, made their debut in 1960s. While previously, solar
global communications, fastest information transfers, photovoltaics (PV) were seen as a thing of the future,
comfortability and eases. All human life sectors are today, technological breakthroughs have positioned the
fundamentally based on technology development, industry for huge growth.
including the energy sector. Solar is already the world`s Trending in 2020 are the floating solar farms. As the
fastest growing energy technology. Ten years ago, there silicon panels are becoming cheaper and more efficient,
were only 20 GW of installed solar capacity globally – 1 if photovoltaic panels are placed on reservoirs and other
GW being roughly the output of a single large power water bodies, they offer even greater efficiency.
station. Floating solar farms can generate huge amounts of
By the end of 2019, the world`s installed solar power electricity without using valuable land or real estate. The
had jumped to about 600 GW. Even with the disruption installation costs of floating photovoltaic panels are less
caused by COVID-19, the forecasts of HIS Markit, a than land-based photovoltaic panels. Also, research
London-based research company, are an extra 105 GW showed that the power production of floating solar
of solar capacity worldwide by the end of 2020. panels is greater by up to 10% due to the cooling effect
of water. Besides producing clean solar power, floating
But how can we boast this market even more? solar farms can help with water management.
Building-integrated photovoltaics, as the name
suggests, seamlessly blend into building architecture in
the form of roofs, canopies, curtain walls, facades, and
skylight systems. Unlike traditional solar PV panels,
BIPV can be aesthetically appealing rather than a
compromise to a building’s design. BIPV solar panel
systems enable homeowners to save on building materials
and electric power costs. By substituting BIPV for
standard building materials, you can cut down on the
additional cost of solar panel mounting systems.
Solar skins are a novel PV technology to integrate

custom designs into solar panel systems. The solar skin
technology is similar to the ad wraps displayed on bus
windows. Solar thin-film skins maintain high efficiency
due to its selective light filtration advancements. The
sunlight falling on solar skins is filtered to reach the solar
cells beneath it. As a result, it simultaneously displays
the custom image and provides solar energy.
Space-based solar power (SBSP) involves collecting

the sun’s energy in space, and then wirelessly
transmitting it to Earth. A space-based solar power
technological process includes using solar panels to
collect solar energy in space with reflectors or inflatable
mirrors that direct solar radiation onto solar panels, and
then beaming it on Earth through a microwave or laser.
The energy is then received on Earth via a microwave
antenna (a rectenna). According to the National Space
Society, space-based solar power has the potential
to dwarf all the other sources of energy combined. They
argue that space-based solar power can provide large
quantities of energy with very little negative
environmental impact. It can also solve our current
energy and greenhouse gas emissions problems.
Novatec Solar recently commissioned a promising energy

storage solution for solar PV systems using a molten salt
storage technology, called Molten Salt Storage
Technology. The process uses inorganic salts to transfer
energy generated by solar PV systems into solar thermal
using heat transfer fluid rather than oils as some storage
system have. The result is that solar plants can operate at
temperatures over 500 degrees Celsius, which would
result in a much higher power output. This means that Solar Roadways. Scientists are exploring ways to
costs to store solar would be lowered significantly and actually line highways and roads with solar panels that
utility companies could finally use solar power plants would then be used to deploy large amounts of
as base load plants rather than to meet peak demand electricity to the grid. This would help overcome a
during prime daylight hours. major barrier to industrial scale solar, which
opponents say threatens to take up too much land.
Solar Panel with Built-In Battery. In a project Solar roadways have already popped up in the
funded by the United States Department of Energy, Netherlands.
Ohio State University researchers recently announced
they created a battery that is 20% more efficient and The ISP low-concentrating solar panel-plus-tracker
25% cheaper than anything on the market today. The The conic mirrored aluminum reflector waves of the
secret to the design is that the rechargeable battery is panel manage to boost cell efficiency 20× through the
built into the solar panel itself, rather than operating as concentrated light, which strikes a trough of sliced
two standalone systems. By conjoining the two into silicon cells that represent only 5% of the volume or
one system, scientists said they could lower costs by area of a traditional crystal silicon panel. The ISP
25% compared to existing products. panels use single junction monocrystalline silicon
Some of the technologies mentioned in this article exist already,

some are in the research phase. Either way, this is a small outlook
of the future of solar technology! Are we ready for it?
deployed as arrays, with patent-pending processes that coming from the sun, anti-solar panels use heat
deliver efficiency close to multi junction cells. radiating off the Earth's surface. Anti-solar panels
work according to the same basic principle as the
Researchers at Imperial College University in London tradition solar panels, but in reverse. Air grows colder
believe they have discovered a new material - gallium at night, so heat radiates from the Earth's
arsenide - that could make solar PV systems nearly surface — which warmed during the day — toward
three times more efficient than existing products on the space. In a phenomenon known as radiative cooling,
market. The solar cells are called "triple junction cells" this heat radiates in the form of infrared light, which
and they're much more efficient, because they can be these new devices can use to generate electricity.
chemically altered in a manner that optimizes sunlight
capture. The model uses a sensor-driven window blind And there are actually lots of other innovative
that can track sun light along with "light-pipes" that residential solar technologies in development or
guide the light into the system. currently being rolled out in 2020. Perhaps the most
Anti-solar panels work in a way opposite to promising new tech is Perovskite solar cells, which
traditional ones. Whereas current versions draw energy could soon be used to create solar paint.
WES.FOUNDATION
I C I E N C Y M A R A
E F F T HO
G Y N 20
E R |
NE
12
FROM BEIRUT
TO THE WORLD
Energy Efficiency Marathon is bringing together experts and companies aiming at creating awareness on energy efficiency. The
virtual marathon of webinars will be held from the 11th until the 28th of October. This first virtual Marathon was created to cover
the ten most important topics related to Energy Efficiency. Discovering new technologies, new project implementations, and network
with companies from more than 10 countries, in dedicated B2B matchmaking sessions.
As an international annual gathering, the Marathon sets out to become the premier event in the MENA that promotes an energy
efficiency ethic to drive action in the region. Policy-makers, local governments, NGOs, and business leaders are encouraged to
participate in an open dialogue that expresses national and worldwide views on energy efficiency and the resulting impact on the
environment, national security, and economic growth. With the emphasis on efficient use of our energy resources, it will help to
elevate the understanding of energy efficiency issues in political debate and identify the repercussions on businesses.
Part of Inspired by Powered by: Organized by Strategic Partner: Knowledge Partner::
October 11- Beirut, Lebanon

October 28 2021 hybrid format
www.worldelitesolutions.com
HOW TO MITIGATE THE
RISKS AND REMAIN IN
THE MARKET OF
RENEWABLES
Since its conception in 2010, Earth Technologies has

found itself committed to deliver excellence to its clients
from a technical, financial, and technology perspectives.
With the current events affecting economies worldwide,
especially in Lebanon, Earth Technologies was forced to
change its mindset and the approach to the market.
In order to mitigate the risks and remain in the market of
renewables as a major player, Earth Technologies "Now is the time to start
followed the specificity of market demand. focusing on these clean
The purchasing power of people was slashed by 75%.
People are now running after necessities, food, shelter,
sources of energy"
and security. The latter is what opened our eyes to a
product we market in Africa, off-grid solar kits.
ET solar kits are a big seller for Earth Technologies

in Africa, mainly in Rwanda, Zambia, Nigeria, and
Ivory Coast. The team realized that this is
becoming a need for Lebanon after rumors that
the Electricity will soon halt. Lebanese living
abroad feel concerned for their parents' well-being
and are worried that their parents couldn't charge
their phones to talk to them or have light at night.
We made available different options ranging from
12 Wp to 7 KWp systems.
The currency inflation that caused the dollar to rise
from 1,500 LBP/dollar to 8,300 lbp/$ (30-06-2020),
was the only draw-back as it limited the Lebanese'
purchasing power, yet empowered the Lebanese
expats in case they were paying for the system.
Earth Technologies is currently engaged with
several projects in Africa EU-funded mini-grids,
solar kits, and telecom systems, and in Lebanon
with UNDP, RMF-USAID, and a few commercial
projects.
We expect the next 18-36 months to be very hard,
yet we hope to start seeing real advancement in
the sector, with the right legislation, vision, and
action.
Earth Technologies found
itself committed to deliver
excellence to its clients from
a technical, financial, and
technology perspectives.
A lot of the renewable energy companies in

Lebanon went through hard times, and some
couldn't survive due to the high costs of operation,
lack of regulation, and the delay of decision-making
for big projects. During this time, the energy supply
in Lebanon was diminishing and getting worse, now
is the time to start focusing on these clean sources
of energy, as a lifeline and necessity rather than an
energy mix add-on.
We expect more decentralized energy systems in
the future, and we urge governments of developing
markets to embrace and support such projects.
To our partners and clients, we promise to maintain
our path to sustainable living, by being pro-active
and technically advanced, hoping these hard days
will be forgotten soon, and the age of prosperity
rises again.
We expect more
de-centralized energy
systems in the future,
and we urge
governments of
developing markets to
embrace and support
such projects.
"the major culprit in
our economy's decline
is fuel imports"
INTERVIEW WITH MR, SAAD MAAKARON, PARTNER AT GREEN ESSENCE LEBANON
What type of adaptive measures the company /

project needed? What were the lessons of this period?
We had to cut costs drastically, reduce our operating cost and

expenses. Laying off people was the hardest, but it was
inevitable given the situation and the lack of new business.
Lessons: we should have acted more aggressively to start
expanding outside Lebanon.
What is the status of your current project(s) and

investments planned for 2020-2021? Which are the
advantages of your business and products, going
forward? What are your expectations from the public
sector, state projects to support future
business?
A few projects with NGO's continue on track. Old projects

with private sector continue with difficult negotiations, as
most can only pay in LBP or lollars. No new projects since
the situation unraveled, and the lack of hard currency started
ruling the market. Our solutions are based on integrating high
tech solar equipment with more than 80% of cost in imported
goods.
Public Sector: from our perspective it is very disappointing;
things continue to go in the opposite direction and away from
sustainability, especially in the energy sector. Knowing that
the major culprit in our economy's decline is fuel imports, and
at a time when developed countries are divesting from fossil
fuels, and aggressively integrating renewables into their
energy mix, Lebanon new Policy is to sink deeper into the
rabbit hole. To make things worse, now energy sold by EDL,
or diesel generator "operators" is cheaper than ever, heavily
subsidized via fixing the price of imported fuel on the old
LBP/USD rate. This encourages consumers to waste more.
For the time being the future looks grim, - Energy Efficiency: we waste a whole lot of
but we look forward to a time when energy in buildings and transportation, we
radical change in policy would shift us have to take a closer look at how we build our
away from importing our energy and homes, the materials we use, and try to
towards producing all we need from a innovate in a clear direction to reduce
combination of renewables in a short pollution, consumption, and energy.
number of years. - Renewables: We continue to pay dearly for
energy imports when we can be a net exporter
What transformations you expect in of renewable energy from solar, hydro, wind.
your sector, their effects for the Regulations that encourage the development
Lebanese economy and in a and deployment of Lebanon made technology
regional perspective? (in areas like towards a 100% sustainable energy in < 15
prices, costs, supply chain, years.
technology disruption, financing,
HR, safety & security)
I would rather list the transformations I
would like to see in the sectors we're
involved in, and we hope to have the
persuasive strength and might to effect
change towards sustainability.
What is your message to clients and

partners?
We thank our clients and partners for
getting us here. After all, they all have
been pioneers in adopting our advocated
concepts of reducing the use of energy
and producing a whole lot from renewable
sources. The near future may look
troubled, but beyond the horizon, and
after the struggle, a new society will
emerge, a society that understands and
defends sustainable practices.
Sa a d Ma a ka r o n i s a n e ne r g y e f f i c ie n c y a n d s o la r s ol u t i o n s e x p e r t . H e i s t he
Co - f o u nd e r a nd di r e c t o r f o r b u s i n e s s d e v e lo p me n t , a t Gr e e n E s s e nc e , a
c o mp a n y w i t h t he mi s s i o n t o br i n g t h e b e n e f i t s o f s o l a r t o e v e r y o n e . He i s a
s t r o n g a d v o c a t e o f e ne r g y i n de p e n d e n c e w it h t h e t o o l s t o ma k e i t h a p p e n.
We’re in the
business of
recycling energy,
not ideas.
What type of adaptive measures the company

needed? What were the lessons of this period?
At FREE energy we reduced our exposure to EPC

projects and focused on energy and indoor air quality
consulting in Lebanon; while focusing on taking our
work outside the country.
What is the status of your current

project(s) and investments planned for
2020-2021? Which are the advantages of
your business and products, going
forward? What are your expectations
from the public sector, state projects to
support future business?
As the country is struggling to find its balance, our

main focus is taking the business outside the country
and creating value elsewhere.
After Covid-19, business around the world are
struggling to reduce their cost and reinforce their
resilience; consequently, FREE energy is positioning
as the energy partner who is able to assist facilities in
reducing their energy cost. Antoine Skayem
We have already succeeded in building a portfolio of
CEO & Managing Partner of FREE energy
solar projects in Saudi Arabia in addition to several
energy audits for prominent players in the Kingdom.
"We are leading the way as the energy solution
What transformations you expect in your providers of the region, where our purpose is to
sector, their effects for the Lebanese manage energy resources in a creative and
economy and in a regional perspective? effective way, in an effort to create harmony
(in areas like prices, costs, supply chain, between our existence and the environment.
technology disruption, financing,
Our innovative solutions are customized according
HR, safety & security)
to our client’s needs: thus, every solution is unique
Without a proper banking system and stable
economy, we believe maneuvering the Lebanese
and every project is a new challenge and
market will be very tricky. opportunity for growth."
We believe in
"We want to change the world.

One solution at a time."
"Our vision is to ensure that clean energy will
dominate the energy sector in Lebanon"
What type of adaptive measures the

company / project needed? What lessons
have you learned from this period
Due to the crisis, we have created an appropriate

solution to the customer by extending the payback
period from 3-4 years till 10 +. And since a new
opportunity rose (power shortage – blackout), we are
now promoting Off-grid solutions, systems with
batteries, to fill the need for power during blackouts.
The main lesson was to not stick with only one product,
and to always expand the solutions to meet all the
market needs.

2020-2021? Which products are going
forward? What are your expectations from
the public sector, state projects to support
future business?
We have lost half of the projects due to the financial

situation (people couldn’t pay since their money is
stuck in the banks and the banks stopped all the green
loans). But on the other side, we implemented 4
medium projects in the beginning of 2020, for
customers who believe in sustainability of their
investment and benefits they will have.
Solar energy = free and renewable energy. So the
customer can have his own electricity anytime of the
day/year without counting on the government. Going
forward: SURE!
Regarding the public sector, we are counting on joining
the new wave of renewable energy due to its
advantages. As to the state projects, we hope it regains
the support that was lost during the crisis.
What transformations you expect in your
sector, their effects for the Lebanese
economy and in a regional perspective? (in
areas like prices, costs, supply chain,
technology disruption, financing, HR,
safety & security)
This sector is the future, so its progress is significant

and independent of all factors.
It will surely affect the Lebanese economy by creating
new job opportunities, less electricity costs and new
businesses (since the electricity costs will be ZERO)

partners?
Invest in solar energy, it will pay back in all the ways.
was established in 2016

by a group of energy experts dedicated in
bringing renewable energy to your home and
business. With more than 10 years of
experience in the renewable energy field, we
know that free energy is now available
through pv solar systems, and became
committed to help creating the new wave of
sustainable, clean energy.
the-exclusive.online
PV installations in
Lebanon greater
than 500KWp I N D E X
With the support of
with the support of
Index
BRSS
Sector: Public
Location: Beirut Central District
Governorate: Beirut
Capacity: 1080 kW
Grid Interaction: On-grid/Grid-tied/Online
Year of installation: 2015
UNIPAK
Sector: Industrial
Location: Halat, Byblos
Governorate: Mount Lebanon
Capacity: 579 kW
SANITA - HOSRAYEL
Sector: Industrial
Location: Hosrayel, Byblos www.phoenixlb.com
Capacity: 688 kW Address: Safra, Kesrwan
Grid Interaction: On-grid/Grid-tied/Online P.O.Box 11 – 2354, Beirut - Lebanon
Year of installation: 2016 Phone: +961-9-855 690
Fax: +961-9-855 696 energy@phoenixlb.com
SANITA - ZOUK
Sector: Industrial
Location: Zouk Mosbeh, Keserwan
Capacity: 1008 kW
Year
of installation: 2016
NOTRE DAME DE SECOURS

HOSPITAL - UNDP
Sector: Commercial
Location: Jbeil, Byblos
Capacity: 600 kW
ZAHRANI OIL INSTALLATIONS
Sector: Public
Location: Zahrani, Saida
Governorate: South Lebanon
Capacity: 1092 kW
MARINA FROZEN FRIES

Sector: Industrial
Location: Riyaq, Zahleh
Governorate: Beqaa
Capacity: 807 kW
CHEHAB BROTHERS
Sector: Industrial
Location: Debbeye, Chouf
Capacity: 1000 kW
www.ecosys.com.lb LIBANJUS PHASE 1+2

Address: HOLCOM Bldg., 460 Corniche Al-Nahr Sector: Industrial
POB 17-5002, Beirut - Lebanon Location: Hadath Beyrouth, Baabda
Phone: +961 (1) 595 501 Governorate: Mount Lebanon
Fax: +961 (1) 595 509 g.geha@itg.com.lb Capacity: 920 kW
e.maalouf@ecosys.com.lb Grid Interaction: On-grid/Grid-tied/Online
TRANSMED
Sector: Retail & Wholesale
Location: Choueifat, Aley
Capacity: 500 kW
SMLC PHASE 1+2 - PEPSI

Sector: Industrial
Location: Choueifat, Aley
Capacity: 2000 kW
with the support of
Index
MASTER CHIPS
Sector: Industrial
Location: Fourzol, Zahleh
Governorate: Beqaa
Capacity: 624.96 kW
HOTEL DIEU DE FRANCE

Sector: Medical www.solarwindme.com
Location: Achrafieh, Achrafieh
Address: Beirut, Symposium Building, ,8th Floor,
Governorate: Beirut
Wardieh Street, Horsh Tabel – Sin EL Fil
Capacity: 530.00 kW
Phone: +961 1 511 390
Fax: +961 1 511 390 ext. 12
info@solarwindme.com

MASTER CHIPS
Sector: Industrial
Location: Fourzol, Zahleh
Governorate: Beqaa
Capacity: 888 kW
SERUM AND SOLUTIONS

Sector: Industrial
Location: Serraine Et Tahta, Baalbek
Governorate: Ballbek - Hermel
Capacity: 1000 kW
with the support of
LIBAN CABLES
Sector: Industrial
www.arinaenergy.com Location: Nahr Ibrahim, Byblos
Address: KORE Central, Jabra Building Charles Governorate: Mount Lebanon
Helou Street Horsh Tabet,Beirut Lebanon Capacity: 601 kW
Phone: +961 1 333 938 Grid Interaction: Hybrid/Multisource
info@arinaenergy.com Year of installation: 2017
PANDA PLAST
Sector: Industrial
Location: Niha, Zahleh
Governorate: Beqaa
Capacity: 700 kW
www.elementssw.com
Address: Sin El Fil, Beirut, Lebanon GGF Center,
Block A, 8th Floor SOLINO GROUP
Phone/Fax: +961 1 492 305
Sector: Industrial
info@elementssw.com
Location: Bablieh
Governorate: Saida
Capacity: 500 kW
DEMCO STEEL
www.free-lb.me Sector: Industrial
Location: Doura, Beirut
Address: Beirut, Symposium Building, ,8th Floor,
Governorate: Beirut
Wardieh Street, Horsh Tabel – Sin EL Fil
Capacity: 1017 kW
Phone: +961 1 511 390
Grid Interaction: Hybrid/Multisource
Fax: +961 1 511 390 ext. 12
info@solarwindme.com
KAA EL RIM SPRINGS FIELD

www.greenessencelebanon.com Sector: Residential
Address: ZAATAR Bldg., Mar Elias Location: Qaa Er Rim, Zahleh
Zahle 51135 - Lebanon Governorate: Beqaa
Phone/Fax: +961 (8) 821 387 Capacity: 600 kW
info@greenessencelebanon.com Grid Interaction: On-grid/Grid-tied/Online
GUEST EXPERT
Unexpected
events can
change
drastically
corporate
strategies.
Interview with Mr. Sami Soughayar, CEO of Matelec
What type of adaptive measures the

company needed? What lessons have
MATELEC GROUP you learned in this period?
was f o u n ded i n 1974 to p r o d uce di s t r i b u t i o n We applied all safety and regulatory measures
tran sfo rm er s and si nce then ha s g ro w n i n t o a required by the competent authorities (ministry of
di v e rsi fi e d and res pected el ectr i ci ty b u s i n e s s
health, ministry of interior, regional governing
pl ay e r wo rki ng acco r di ng to i nter n a t i o n a l
bodies. Practically we haven`t stopped operating
stan dards. W i thi n i ts fi r st d eca de o f o p e r a t i o n ,
the g ro u p wa s abl e to enl ar g e i ts p r o d u c t s as our products are considered vital for the
o ffe ri n g to swi tch g ear s, pa ckag e su b s t a t i o n s , electricity sector for Lebanon.
and co n tr o l and pr o tecti o n sy stems. In p a r a l l e l , The crisis triggered a wake-up call that
Mate l e c expanded i nto eng i neeri n g and unexpected events can change all our strategies.
co ntr acti ng acti v i ti es wi th the r ea l i z a t i o n o f This reminds us somehow of the black swan
co mpl e x H V , MV an d LV p r o j ects. Pr ese n t l y , t h e theory. We need to be flexible enough to cope as
Gro u p ca rri es man ufa ctur i ng a nd co m m e r c i a l
much as possible with changes that might affect
faci l i ti e s acro ss the Mi deast, Afr i ca a nd E u r o p e .
the activity of our company.
2020-2021? Which are the advantages of
your business and products, going forward?
What are your expectations from the public
sector, state projects to support future
business?
Some of our foreign projects and export orders were

slowed down. However, we received several new
contracts from different countries. We expect to
maintain or activity level as soon as things are almost
back to normal.
What transformations you expect in your

sector, their effects for the Lebanese
economy and in a regional perspective? (in
areas like prices, costs, supply chain,
technology disruption, financing, HR,
safety & security)
Due to the current economic crisis in Lebanon, the

biggest transformation is the banking sector
incapability to continue supporting domestic
companies. We as Matelec are less affected by others
since a major part of our production is for export
markets. A shaping of Lebanese economy is
underway. The extent of this shaping will be clear in
the near future.
Also safety and security measures will be maintained
for a longer period. This might affect the travel of our
personnel, and the visits of our customers and
partners to Lebanon.

partners?
Matelec is known as being able to deliver within
difficult circumstances: although such events are
unique over a period of 100 years, We tried to
maintain our commitment towards our clients which
are in need of our products and services.
What type of adaptive measures the company / We insisted on close and constant communication with our teams to
ensure they are following the guidelines set and start forming new
project needed? What were the lessons of this
habits. In terms of dealing with our clients, we stopped cash dealings
period? and resorted to bank transfers to minimize physical interactions. As for
stations and distribution, we had to keep following the guidelines
The general mobilization took a toll on the whole supply chain in
imposed by the general mobilization, which included shorter and
the energy and transport sector as businesses were ordered to close
disturbed operating hours and closure of washing services, among other
and mobility became scarce. From importation, storage, and
restrictions. These limitations led to a large slowdown and a drop of
transportation, to retail sales at gas stations, deliveries to SME's and
over 60-70% in sales. We had to quickly rethink our staffing schedules
homes etc., we faced disruptions in all aspects of our business. The
to ensure continuous service within the measures imposed. These
first level of defense was to ensure our continuity throughout this
measures led to further disruption in our importing schedules with our
unprecedented period. We started re-adapting our operations
international suppliers, as the decrease in demand meant an unexpected
internally. On the level of employees and operations, we
low turnover in product and full storage capacity. This meant we had to
implemented very quickly the work from home concept, and set up
turn to suppliers to renegotiate our supply schedule for that period.
systems to ensure continuity and efficiency. From video meetings to
close follow up, we were able to ensure a smooth operation, from
What is the status of your current project(s) and
our supply departments to servicing orders for clients. As for
building and attendance, a crisis committee was immediately formed
investments planned for 2020-2021? Which are the
to ensure the health and safety of the Group. We closed our HQ for advantages of your business and products, going
the first three weeks, then opened up with a third capacity, and forward? What are your expectations from the public
eventually went back to normal operations. However, this was
sector, state projects to support future business?
heavily coupled with several health and safety guidelines. Mostly
included the provision of gloves and masks that became mandatory The general mobilization period unfortunately was not the beginning of
on work sites, abiding by social distancing etiquette, constant the difficult period for IPT, but it did compound it. With Lebanon
washing of hands, disinfecting the buildings constantly, and lately facing deteriorating economic and political circumstances as of October
the addition of the disinfecting fog machine for all people entering 2019, IPT, as for the rest of the energy sector, has slowly started seeing
the building. alterations in the business medium. Our business model had to come to
"WHAT LEBANON
NEEDS TODAY IS A
COMPREHENSIVE
REFORM PLAN THAT
REVIVES ITS
ECONOMY AND
SOCIAL STANDARDS"
"IPT (Issa Petrol Trade) gets people and businesses moving. We

offer premium oil and gas solutions in addition to a wide variety
of services. At IPT we fully understand the energy and
environmental challenges of today's rapidly changing world."
a quick change, while abruptly becoming an upfront payment type of countries' strategies.
business to our suppliers, we had to impose the same on our clients.
Rather than providing customers with financing options which we also
What transformations you expect in your sector, their effects
had previously, the cash cycle has become a quicker one that ultimately for the Lebanese economy and in a regional perspective?
relies on prepayment to avoid disruption of supply. As the exceptional circumstances have been dragging on since October 2019, it
This now means that for the time being and as the Lebanese business became very clear that as the general mobilization period gets lifted
landscape remains unclear, we had to freeze most of our expansionary progressively, Lebanon would not go back to normal. The closure due to the
projects. Our focus now is to consolidate IPT Group in its size today pandemic slowed things down, but accelerated the deterioration of our economic
and continue to service our clients through the best of our abilities. Our and social conditions in Lebanon even further. For the energy sector, we face
reach across Lebanon will allow us to persevere, be it through our issues on two ends: demand and supply. On the demand side, we are seeing
expansive network across the country, or through our owned fleet decreases in sales and demand for fuel, especially as more businesses are
system that can ensure proper coverage. After all, the advantage of our closing, less construction is happening, among other factors. We are also not
business lies within our product; fuel is a primary resource that remains confident that the state will be able to keep subsidizing the fuel sector by
indispensable. providing dollar liquidity for most of the shipments at the rate of 1515L.L. while
Expectations in the near future unfortunately do not hold much promise the market rate today surpasses 8000L.L. On top of that, we are expecting
when it comes to the private sector in the energy and transport sector, additional taxes on gasoline and diesel that should be part of the government's
given several complications and issues the companies are facing in light reform plan in coordination with the IMF, which will increase financial strains
of the financial crisis and the deeply entrenched political problems locally and further decrease purchasing power. On the supply end, the
governing the country. We are facing complications and pressure constraints keep getting tighter: it has become almost impossible to open
negatively affecting our sustainability, especially that the relationship guaranteed letters of credit and our payment methods vis-a-vis international
between the private and public sector has not recently been at its best. suppliers can only be executed through the central bank. Banking issues tend to
There are several points of view on the role of either in the sector in slow down and disrupt the importing process. Given the economic situation
Lebanon today, whether the public sector takes charge of importation today, we do not foresee an improvement in our financial system nor an
for the country, or whether the sector remains with private companies in improvement in confidence with international entities. One main transformation
the future. The struggle remains, as it is worsened by the political that has begun is the gradual difficulty of having and keeping foreign workers on
divisions over this vital commodity for citizens and an essential tool for gas stations, facilities, and terminals
Interview with Dr. Toni Issa, Vice Chairman – IPT Group
. With the dollar becoming more inaccessible and transfers almost

impossible, we are seeing a vital need to replace our service employees.
In light of this, IPT launched the unprecedented and responsible
initiative to hire Lebanese workers, believing in the social responsibility
towards our country and fellow Lebanese citizens. We wanted to change
the old-school beliefs that fuel stations have to rely on foreign workers
and open up new work opportunities for our local workforce. A
confirmation of the necessity of this initiative came through the very
high number of applications we received. In less than a week, we had
received over 1,500 applications from all ages and regions, men and
women alike. This showed us the change in the mindset of Lebanese
people as the social and economic backdrop is getting tougher and
unemployment keeps on rising. We have already launched three stations
that offers 100% Lebanese service, and we are underway to open up
another three in the near future. Eventually, we expect most of our
stations to become serviced by the Lebanese workforce. The
unexpectedly high number of applications received from all areas of
Lebanon and of all age ranges allowed us to form an extensive database
of Lebanese looking for employment. We decided to expand our
initiative and reach out to our partners and franchisees of other IPT
stations to encourage them to do the same, in the hope of spreading this
What is your message to clients and partners?
over Lebanese territories and creating as many opportunities as possible
for the Lebanese people. Despite the hardships we have been facing lately, it is important not to lose
faith in our country and our abilities. Crisis brings opportunity; and this is how
we are approaching these tough times. Whether it is through internal
restructuring and improving our operations, or launching timely initiatives that
contribute to our society, we are working twice as hard to remain relevant and
buckle up to be ready to emerge stronger from the crisis. We would like to
extend our invitation to this approach to our clients and our partners to get
through these periods together, and figure out together the new business
landscape we will be operating in. It is important not to give up on our
country, since this is an opportunity to help rebuild Lebanon for the better.
After all, it is worth a reminder that businesses in Lebanon are family

businesses, and many projects are run locally. These Lebanese families and
entities should not only succumb to the rules of investment, but remember that
at the end of the day, we are trying to save and rebuild our own country. Today,
more than ever, we should all feel involved and concerned in making the
sacrifices needed today to get through the difficult years ahead in the hope of
changing the current mentality. We should move away from resorting to
importing all our products and services to fulfill local needs, and this huge
responsibility falls on the citizens and the government and all its entities alike.
What Lebanon needs today is a comprehensive reform plan that revives its
economy and social standards, away from political conflicts. Finally, we can
only hope this coming phase will pass as quickly as possible, with the least
amount of damage possible, in the hope of better country and standard of life.
INTEGRATING DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESSOURCES IN VIRTUAL POWER
PLANT OPERATIONS FOR ELECTRICITY DU LIBAN - AN ALTERNATIVE
EMERGENCY PLAN TO REFORM THE POWER SECTOR
AND CREATE SUSTAINABLE JOBS
AN ALTERNATIVE EMERGENCY
PLAN FOR LEBANON
Dear Future Investor,

Lebanon has been plagued by a long-lasting energy crisis that suffocated its economy. Over
decades, Lebanon underinvested in its power infrastructure, leaving Electricité du Liban, the state-
owned vertically integrated utility, to suffer from structural problems impacting the fiscal deficit of
the Lebanese government and the economy. On one hand, Electricité du Liban has accumulated
debt losses of US$ 40 billion over the past decades 40% of Lebanon’s total debt – because of a non-
cost reflective tariff policy, aging plus inefficient generation and grid infrastructure and poor
revenue collection. On the other, the lack of generation capacity led to the emergence of private
generation businesses, which profited from weak regulation to achieve high margins.
In 2010 a plan for the electricity sector has been approved by the government to reform the sector.
The plan was simple, build centralised capacity to phase out diesel generators. Forward 2021, we
are in stand still, facing the same political barriers to implement the plan. In light of this endemic
challenge, our group of experts is putting a forward a proposal to reform the electricity sector
based on a) a different approach b) new cost of technologies c) new economic reality. If the
proposal gets endorsed by authorities, we have the potential to create a virtuous circle within the
Lebanese economy by aggressively pushing solar PV and maximizing the local content of every
kWh produced in the country. As a potential investor your future investment is a building block of
the policy. We hope this article will convince you of its financial attractiveness and social impact.
We will address four key questions that are on the top of your mind:
I. Why does Lebanon need an alternative emergency plan?

II. What is our alternative emergency plan?
III. How do we implement our plan?
IV. What’s in it for you?
We look forward to support your interest in lobbying this plan.

We sincerely thank the local and international experts who kindly participated in discussions that
informed this article.
The Future Energy Leaders of Lebanon - Digitalization Taskforce team

Farid Comaty, Dyaa el Rifai, Serge Saad, Perla Tannous, Ali Shebbo
With the support from Francois Farage and Ahmad Diab
MEET THE TEAM
Farid Comaty – Team leader Francois Farage – External

Master in Energy Science and Technology from ETH Zurich in 2013 Engineering degree from ULFG2 in 1999. In Renewable energy field since
Mechanical engineer bachelor from McGill University in 2010Senior 2008. Implementing PV diesel in Lebanon since 2014. Chairman of Green
consultant with Guidehouse (ex. Navigant). 6 years of strategy consulting Essence Lebanon a Lebanese EPC that implemented more than 7MWp solar
experience with leading utilities in Europe and Middle East. Expert on in Lebanon.
business strategies in the smart grid transformation. Core themes, virtual Contact info: francois@greenessencelebanon.com
power plants, energy storage and demand response.1 year of research
experience at the Power Systems Laboratory of ETH Zurich.
Contact info: faridcomaty@gmail.com
Dyaa el Rifai – FELL team Ahmad Diab – External

Power System expert in the application engineering team of GE Digital Grid. MSc in Energy Studies and BEng from AUB. 5 years of experience in the
French engineering diploma in Energy Management and a Master of Business renewable field. Worked on systems modeling, renewable energy for
Administration. Started career with Wind Farm projects in H2air-France. development and empowerment and new technologies in Lebanon and MENA.
Moved to GE to work on Advanced Energy Management Systems (AEMS). Currently a Project Manager with SMAP energy to help connect capital with
Five years of experience: contributed in commissioning SCADA EMS systems RE opportunities globally.
and training end users for several TSOs and Generation companies in EURAF Contact info: diab.4g@gmail.com
region: Statnett, ENERGINET, Vattenfall, RWE, Veolia.
Contact info: dyaa.elrifai@gmail.com
Serge Saad – FELL team Perla Tannous – FELL team Ali Shebbo – FELL team
Diploma in Mechanical engineering from Notre Dame Diploma in Mechanical engineering from the Project Manager at Siemens Energy, Germany
University in 2017. Worked with energy independence Lebanese University in 2017. Professional master's Diploma in Electrical Engineering from the
solutions, as an energy consultant specialized in degree from Arts et Métiers ParisTech, France in University of Karlsruhe. He joined Siemens in
delivering energy savings solutions in Lebanon. 2018. She worked at Engie Group for a single year, 2011 as a Power Engineer and Service Project
Afterward, he joined Ogero the lead telecom provider specialized in development and execution of Manager, specializing in power plant upgrades and
in Lebanon as the project lead for the strategic photovoltaic solar plants in France. Moved back to modernization (nuclear & CCGT) for the Middle
planning and execution of the fiber optical nation- Lebanon in June 2019 and joined ECOsys company East & Europe region.
wide program's power backbone in the strategic part of ITG group as a presales consultant for Contact info: ali.shebbo@gmail.com
planning and PMO directorate. photovoltaic projects in the MENA region.
Contact info: sergesaad1@gmail.com Contact info: perla_tannous@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: The content of this report are purely the views of the authors and do not represent
the views of the company they work for or the board of the World Energy Council Lebanon
AN ALTERNATIVE
EMERGENCY PLAN
FOR LEBANON
CONTEXT OF LEBANON ENERGY SECTOR I.WHY DOES LEBANON NEED AN

ALTERNATIVE EMERGENCY PLAN?
Lebanon electricity needs boils down to an electricity demand of 23 TWh and
a peak demand of 3.5 GW. Electricité du Liban supplies two third of the Lebanon needs an alternative emergency plan for the following five reasons:
electricity under subsidized tariff scheme while private generators supply the
rest at a profitable rate. Electricité du Liban operates 1.6 GW of fossil fuel 1. We need to stay ahead of the curve and not behind it – Both plans, 2019
power plants and 0.2 GW of hydro power plants, generating a total of 16 plan or EDF plan, are based on a centralized traditional planning approach
TWh. Around 1.2 to 1.6 GW of diesel generators are installed at industrial that disregards the value of flexibility of existing distributed energy resources,
and commercial sites, and around 2-3 GW diesel generators are installed as when globally, system planning has shifted towards the integration of
neighborhood generators. Diesel generators generates ca. 7 TWh.. distributed energy resources to maximize the shares of renewable energies
In April 2019, the Council of Ministers approved the updated electricity and reduce operating cost. If we now rebuild our system the old way, we will
sector reform plan of the be missing the opportunity to optimize our existing asset base and learn from
Ministry of Energy and Water. Similar to 2010, the central policy of the plan the lessons of operating systems with high shares of renewable energies.
was to build centralized gas generation plants to phase out diesel albeit this
time combining a temporary and permanent solution in one contract to a 2. We need to think win-win and not win-lose – Both plans, 2019 plan or
multinational and pushing renewables in the mix to 30% by 2030. To ensure EDF plan, fail to incentivize all stakeholders of the power sector, walking
integration of renewables, the World Bank financed a least cost generation with a win-lose mentality that would shift away all revenues from one sector
plan study conducted by Electricité de France to lay out the deployment of to another. This led to a deadlock between vested political and business
new conventional and renewable generation as well as battery storage interests to execute the reform plan and in a period of ten years no new power
capacity in the country. The plan is based on a centralized architecture of the plants have been built.
power system and does not foresee a role for distributed energy resources at
the medium to low voltage. The EDF study has still not been ratified in an 3. We need to stay as flexible as possible and free from lock in effects -
official plan, and for now, the caretaker minister has been orienting his Both plans, 2019 plan or EDF plan, locks Lebanon in take or pay contracts
decision according to the 2019 plan. with fossil fuel power plants for 20 years at >9ct/kWh, offering these a share
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
all the country to give a clear and fair market signal to all investors for a period of ten years. It is
necessary to combine the PV and Diesel assets as the two sources complement each other – the
contract will be over valuating the LCOE of a PV plant but under valuating the LCOE of the diesel
generator, yet from a portfolio perspective, the contract will be profitable. That is, the contract
incentivizes investors to maximize solar PV in their portfolio while minimizing Diesel to the strict
minimum as every kWh produced with diesel is a loss, but every kWh produced with PV compensate
that loss and is an over profit. It is not possible to separate the contracts and incentivize integration
of diesel generators in such way.
5. We need to create a virtuous circle to spur economic growth and innovation in Lebanon –
Scaling aggressively solar PV and integrating distributed energy resources in the national electricity
system has several benefits that get created through cycles. First cycle it triggers the innovative
mind of Lebanese engineers to develop the solutions for aggregating and managing distributed
energy resources in what we call virtual power plant operations. Second it is the quickest way to get
a reliable and unified power system. Third it improves Lebanon balance of payments by reducing
fuel imports. Fourth it creates thousands of jobs for every GW of solar installed and future virtual
power plant operators. Fifth the loop closes itself as the more DERs are integrated the more flexible
the system becomes and the higher the shares of renewable energies can be integrated and in turn
improve Lebanon balance of payment. This circle is a virtuous circle, where the result of each cycle
increases the beneficial effect of the next.
Figure 1 The economic virtuous circle when integrating distributed energy resources
II.WHAT IS OUR ALTERNATIVE

E M
E R G E N C Y A C T I O N P L A N ?
in the energy mix of 70%. In a country where the Our emergency plan rests on the 3-D trends of the energy transition that we observe globally:
solar energy potential has been evaluated by local Decarbonization, Digitalization and Democratization. Instead of renting a temporary solution from
institutions to reach 20 GW 1, moving along in such a multinational power company to phase out diesel generators, our alternative emergency action
direction would considerably hinder the plan is designed to aggressively push solar PV in Lebanon by aggregating diesel generators and
development of the renewable energy sector. We batteries in virtual power plant operations. As such, our BAU scenario to which we compare our
would put the country in 2030 in the same impasse results is the original updated plan of the Lebanese government approved by the Lebanese
that Jordan is facing today, unable to sign low cost government in 2019. That is, to rent for 5 years a temporary solution to provide 7,000 TWh at 10
solar bids at 2-3 ct/kWh, while we can take today ct/kWh. We explain in this section the what of the 3Ds. In the next section we explain the how.
advantage of our existing diesel generators in pay
as you go contracts to balance the plant portfolio 1.Decarbonization: We are pushing for a steep acceleration of solar PV in Lebanon. In our plan
and increase the shares of renewable beyond 30%. solar PV capacity shares reaches 4 GW by 2025, if not before. Best-in class 2 diesel generators will
be acting as balancing resources to cover the residual load that EDL is unable to supply. There are
4. We need to adapt to the new economic reality three reason why EDL could not supply a) lack of generation capacity b) technical constraint due
and maximize local value - The current economic to fast ramping requirements c) local grid congestions. Figure 2 illustrate the results of an hourly
crises demand that we localize the solution and for dispatch simulation of the power system in Lebanon with 4 GW of solar PV.
that aggressively push distributed solar PV in the We did not model in our simulations the effect of b) or c). This would require more detailed
country while ensuring system stability. We can modeling in power system software analysis.
only do so by designing a feed-in tariff policy for As can be observed in the left part of figure 2, solar gets priority dispatch (green curve), EDL
hybrid PV-diesel plants that would be virtually (orange curve) ramps up or down accordingly with a minimum load constraints and maximum
connected to the MV substations of the distribution generation cvonstraints while diesel generators (blue curve) cover the rest of the residual load. The
grid. The tariff will be the same across all the curtailment of solar energy (purple curve) that appears on the negative y axis represents solar
{1} Study from the Lebanese Foundation of Renewable Energy and the National Council of Scientific Research. The study considered the
details of elevation, slope, hill shade, land use, geology type, vegetation density and hazardous area across all solar sites to come to 20 GW
{2} By best-in class diesel generators we mean the newest generators bought by the private sector that respect above than average operational
efficiencies and environmental emissions standards (e.g Caterpillar C32 model 2015 and above). We took a share of 30% of the existing
diesel generator of 4 GW to be best in class i.e 1.6 GW.
sources we will require to improve the visibility and control of these
assets by installing at their premise’s smart communication
controllers. These controllers will be the building block of the virtual
power plant platform, a platform that will aggregate several dispersed
DER sources across its control area to emulate the power and energy
capacity of one large power plant. This platform will be operated by a
new entity in Lebanon the Virtual Power Plant Operator who will be
Figure 2 Hourly and yearly dispatch view of Lebanon power system: 24 TWh electricity demand, 3.4 GW
peak load, 1.8 GW EDL power supply, EDL national supply 16 TWh, solar 5 TWh, diesel generator 2 TWh responsible to manage the DERs contracts and ensure they balance
their region with respect to EDL flexibility needs. The VPP operator
energy that could not be integrated due to an excess in-feed at certain hours of will centralize all the DER-related business processes by providing
the day. These instances happen when EDL generators reach their ramp down the following:
limit to avoid shutdown and start-up costs. Bi-directional communication between the control center and
On the right part of figure 2, we observe the annual dispatch of the power aggregated DERs
system. In the same energy context of today i.e electricity demand of 23 TWh, By receiving active power measurements and forecasts from the
peak demand of 3.4 GW, EDL generation of 16 TWh, diesel generators 7 TWh, aggregators and sending active power targets towards the DERs.
it would be possible to integrate 80% of the generated electricity of 4 GW of Active power remote control
solar PV plants and reduce diesel generation by 70%. Compared to the BAU By collecting data from different sources: first, day-ahead generation
solution, Lebanon would save 7.3 million tons of CO2e. Valued at today CO2 forecasts submitted by the VPP aggregators. Second, day ahead
price of 25 €/ton in the European market, this could mean potential climate forecasts of EDL power plants and active power forecasts on the
financing opportunity of 180-220 million USD with very low interest rates.% feeders. Then, this collected data will be combined and processed to
.
of the solar PV generation would need to be curtailed, equivalent to 1 TWh. generate VPP generation plans that will be translated into active
This 1 TWh is the driver of the business case to introduce battery storage power setpoints sent to the aggregators.
systems in Lebanon. Figure 3 illustrates the results of a dispatch simulation Energy accounting and billing
that maximizes renewable energy integration and includes the deployment of By using the active power measurement, VPP platform will be
distributed battery storage systems that cumulates to 1.8 GW and 4 GWh of providing accurate energy accounting and billing as per the
reservoir capacity. contractual pricing with aggregators.
Interoperability with EDL Energy Management System
The VPP platform will be providing active Power forecasts of VPPs
to EDL as an input to their N-1 network analysis. Moreover, in the
future, an installed Automatic Generation Controller in the control
center can feed the VPP platform with real-time power signals that
will be transferred to the aggregator.
User interface
The EDL will be using the user interface to visualize actual VPP
Figure 3 Hourly and yearly dispatch view of Lebanon power system: 24 TWh electricity demand, 3.4 GW peak load, 1.8 GW
power generation, available VPP power reserves, export invoices and
EDL power supply, EDL national supply 16 TWh, solar 6 TWh, diesel generator 1 TWh, battery energy storage 1 TWh
energy accounting reports. These business processes are illustrated in
We observe on the left part of figure 3 how batteries are dispatched (dark figure 4.
green) after being charged (purple curve) when there is an excess of solar
electricity in the grid. The diesel generation (blue curve) are dispatched as least
measure when the batteries are fully discharged in one cycle. On the right part
of figure 3, we observe the impact of introducing batteries on the yearly
dispatch of diesel generators. The charge/discharge cycles of batteries (red-
dotted line) have reduced the need of diesel generators. Under such scenario,
diesel generation electricity will be reduced by 85% and Lebanon will integrate
fully the 4 GW of solar PV. Lebanon would save an additional 0.7 million tons
of CO2 by introducing batteries. Valued at today CO2 price of 25 €/ton in the
European market, this could mean potential financing opportunity of 15-25
million USD going as additional revenues to batteries. Figure 4 Integrating Distributed Energy Resources in Lebanon: The Virtual Power Plant framework
2. Digitalization: The center of our plan is to push the integration of

Distributed Energy Resources (DER) in the national control system of EDL. Creating such platform will be a cornerstone in reforming our power
These DERs will consist in the short term of the best-in class distributed sector not to only integrate the 4 GW of Solar PV we have planned
generators existing, the new distributed PV plants that will come online but to integrate in all future DERs in the systems, be it small scale or
aggressively and new distributed battery energy storage systems we expect to large scale solar and wind plants, run of river hydro, batteries,
penetrate the market when there will be excess solar electricity in Lebanon (see electric vehicles, flexible industrial or commercial loads, fuel cells,
figure 3 above). To effectively integrate Distributed Energy Resources (DER) heat pumps etc.
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
3.Democratization: The third D in the energy transition. Countries globally have used feed-
in tariffs to accelerate their energy transition and distribute welfare effects within their
society. For example, in Germany citizens and cooperatives owned 47% of the 74 GW
total renewable installed capacity in Germany, while large utilities owned 12% in 2012. This
had a positive welfare effects as a much larger number of German citizens benefited from a
positive business case compared to few utilities, while it pushed the utilities to innovate their
business model and transit progressively in platform operators that provide services to
manage the distributed energy resources.
This is the dynamic we want to create in Lebanon by given a feed in tariff for hybrid PV-
diesel plants that would be virtually connected to the MV substations of the distribution grid.
That means, one diesel plant in Beirut could apply for the tariff if he partners with a local
renewable developer that would build the plant wherever he finds appropriate land and where
the grid capacity is enough to integrate the PV plant output. Similarly, renewable developer
will have to partner with a diesel generator that respect high standard of operational and
environmental efficiencies to apply for the feed in tariff. As such, we would offer 1000 to
1,500 feed-in tariffs licenses that will be distributed on a pass/fail criteria and first-come
first-serve basis across the country and depending on the available MV substation grid
capacity. The pass fail will mainly be based on the diesel gen specs having to meet minimal
requirements of ±5% of the CAT C32Gen Set. Figure 5 illustrates the distribution of licenses
in Lebanon according to the single line diagram of the HV/MV in Lebanon that was provided
to us.
Figure 5 Overview of the distribution of PV-Diesel feed-in tariff licenses across Lebanon regions
Maximum capacity licenses represent the sum of the maximum capacity of the MV
substations installed in one region. That is, according to the data we have received, the
current maximum capacity of integration of PV in the existing MV substations reaches 6.7
GW. We allocate 25% of this to the diesel generator and the minimum PV capacity that will
be mandated in the feed in tariff.
In the next section we dive in the details of a) the feed in tariff policy, its mechanism, its
return on investment, its financing b) the pilot project c) the next steps for key stakeholders.
III. HOW DO WE IMPLEMENT OUR

PLAN?
In laying the elements for implementing our vision into reality, we have
designed the policy framework, assessed the impact on BDL $ reserves,
proposed a pilot project and recommended a roadmap of actions for key
stakeholders in the sector.
1. POLICY FRAMEWORK
The policy rests on a technology agnostic feed-in-tariff has been designed to incentivize the integration of a pool of dispatchable plants of min
1MW to max 10 MW with a minimum 60% to maximum 150% of solar PV capacity. We name this license PV-X license, as X describes any
dispatchable/storage technology that the private sector is free to choose under our proposed feed in tariff and the legal framework of the contract.
We describe the key elements of the policy:
Size of the PV-X plant: The license will be given to a pool of dispatchable/storage technology in an area is of 1 MW, this pool of
dispatchable/storage technology owners will need at year 1 to build a PV plant of minimum 0.6 MW up to maximum of 2.5 MW. If the owners
chose to build the minimum, then by contract signature they are mandated at each following year to increase the PV capacity by 0.5 MW until
they reach the maximum allowed. If the pool of dispatchable/storage technology comes to 10 MW, then the min PV capacity that should be
built is 6 MW up to 25 MW.
Feed-in tariff: The feed-in tariff is designed such that it ensures for the PV-X license that is choosing a minimum of Solar PV installments per
year an Internal Rate of Return of 16% with a Return on Investment of 20-35% over a period of ten years. The tariff for the contract signed on
year 1 will be at 15 ct/kWh for ten years. This tariff will remunerate the X generator/storage technology for the first five years, while the
minimum solar PV capacity will continue to be be remunerated until year 10. The additional minimum PV capacity coming online every year,
the tariff will be gradually decreasing every year from 8 ct/kWh, 7.5 ct/kWh, 7.0 ct/kWh to 6.5 ct/kWh. These tariffs are purely remunerating
solar energy in the PV-X license and are extended by year+1, year+2, year+3, year+4 to the original contract signed on year 1. If now the
investor chooses to invest more than the minimum solar PV capacity, than his internal rate of return will increase. If the substation capacity
permits it and the investor succeed in submitting the first pass application with a maximum solar PV, the internal rate of return of the
investment on year 1 will go up to 32%. As such the tariff incentivizes investors to maximize solar PV in their portfolio while minimizing
Diesel to the strict minimum as every kWh produced with diesel is a loss (18 ct/kWh), but every kWh produced with PV (5.6 ct/kWh)
compensate that loss and is an over profit. All our financial calculations are based on the results of our hourly techno economic simulation
model. Snapshots illustrated in figure 2 and figure 3.
Legal framework: In our PV-X contract there will be three main
conditions. A) Solar PV contracts will be signed on a take or pay
basis B) generation/storage X technology contracts will be signed on a
pay as you go under extension of law 129 C) the PV-X plant needs to
come online within the time of construction of the PV plant. Take or
pay contracts will guarantee secure returns to the investors as solar
PV plants will get paid even if they need to be curtailed. Pay as you
go for technology X will mean that EDL via the interim of the VPP
operator, will only pay technology X when it needs it to balance its
pool over the course of a day. There is no obligation to use
technology X. The constraint on the time of construction of X is put
as the goal of the policy is to aggressively push PV and not delay its
integration.
Payments: The PV-X contracts will be paid 80% in $ and 20% in
LBP. The central bank will guarantee a fixed exchange rate against
the $ for PV investments. 20% will be paid in LBP as this represents
the local value of producing one kWh with a PV plant built by a local
developer.
Social equity: The PV-X contract will incentivize community
investment through a tax relief to maximize the social welfare impact
of the policy. That means, the more diluted the investment capital is
with respect with the number of investors, the higher the tax relief
will be on earnings and in turn the higher the return on investment. Figure 7 Comparison of the current plan of the MEW vs the Alternative: Impact on BDL $ reserves
Figure 6 A new policy framework for integrating virtual power plant operators in Lebanon as a new business model
2. POLICY FINANCING
Gone are the days where we could say that Lebanon is a “dollarized” sign an IPP with 1.5 GW for a capacity factor of 55% in a take or pay
economy and the currency stable. Following a decade of fiscal and current basis. Assuming a best-case scenario negotiated deal that contract would
account deficits the government defaulted for the first time on its come at 11 ct/kWh for heavy fuel oil plants and 8 ct/kWh following a
Eurobond payment in March 2020. With dwindling foreign inflows, the fuel switch to gas post 2025 with operational FSRU plants. Comparing
LBP lost 80% of its value, inflation rose by 90% and 50% of the our alternative plan on that basis, the central bank can save 1.7 billion
population is unemployed. USD reserves until 2030 if it were to guarantee $ reserves for solar PV
With that context in mind, financing every $ now counts and we need to imports and digital equipment in the first five years. From experience,
very carefully prioritize allocation to optimize our reserves. Because our we know that no new investment will be signed at 55% in take or pay at
policy aggressively pushes solar PV in the country, it reduces our fuel 11 ct/kWh for fuel oil or 8ct/kWh for gas. These prices have been
imports bill and improve our balance of payment. For every $ spent on 1 offered at a capacity factor of 90%. Compensating this loss, we estimate
kW of PV, we can save 0.3 $ of oil imports. That means that following prices will be offered at a PPA of 13.5 ct/KWh for fuel oil and 10.5
year 4, we are saving every year a NET 0,3$ on the balance of payment. ct/KWh for gas. Our policy in that case would save up to 3 billion USD
Extrapolated, this means our alternative plan has the potential to save in reserves.
USD 1,7 - 3 billion by 2030 compared to the existing plan of the ministry. To capitalize on these savings, the central bank will need to guarantee
Hence in our view the central bank needs to reserve $ to guarantee a fixed more $ reserves for the alternative plan in the first two years of the plan
currency exchange for the import of solar PV and digital equipment in in order to import the solar 2 GW of solar PV equipment (an additional
order to attract private investors in the sector and enable the 500 M$ on year 1 and an additional 200 M$ on year 2). From year 3 on,
establishment of VPPs. the alternative plan cost less on the $ reserve (savings of 120 M$) and
We have compared the cost of the two plans on a $ basis until 2030 every year forward savings cumulate. To finance the additional cost in
considering a varying ct/kWh cost for the future IPP signed in the the first two years, climate finance funds can be solicited as we save a
government plan and an interest LIBOR rate of 3% for the time value of potential to save to save CO2 emissions 7.3 million tons of CO2e that are
money. Our results show that if the government is to generate the gap of valued at 180-220 million USD at today CO2 prices in Europe (refer to
~7000 GWh with a temporary and permanent solution, he would need to section II.1).
3. PILOT PROJECT
VPPs are in operation since early 2010s in Europe. The technology to Several digital technology suppliers and energy operators are highly capable of
aggregate DERs is today mature and technology suppliers are renting their supporting us (e.g Siemens, EDF, Next Kraftwercke, 50 Hz, ABB …), Our
software solutions as white label. Actually the first DER technology that was first estimate of the pilot project comes to 4.5-6.5 Million $, between:
integrated in Germany were diesel generators. To prove the concept we
• VPP platform (0.5-2 M$): software licenses, servers, support contract
propose to conduct a pilot project on one feeder of the MV grid in Lebanon
• Transmission Management System Upgrade (2M$): AGC functionality.
where we will test the concept of synchronizing a pool of generators with the
Communication gateways, software licenses, support contracts
national grid frequency, balance the infeed of new solar PV plants locally
• Telecom (0.1M$): Telecom routing, DER controllers
and ensure 24 hour electricity supply at MV feeder level of 10 MW. Figure 8
• Administrative Processes and contracts (1.5-2M$): PPA Agreements, EDL
illustrate the current situation of Lebanon power system operation principles,
Processes creation/update, consultancy support, capacity training
our pilot project and proposed rollout scheme.
4. STAKEHOLDER ACTIONS
AND ROLL OUT PLAN
The Ministry of Energy and Water, Electricité du Liban, the World Bank and
Electricité de France are the key players that need to coordinate their actions
to put this plan in execution and succeed in piloting a test case by end of
2021. In figure 9 and 10 we list the actions of each per quarter until end of
2021 and the roll out plan for distributing PV-X licenses in two years in
Lebanon.
Ministry of Energy and Water:
Reviews plan feasibility

Collect data from distributors of generators
Write a letter of intent to IFI to test concept
Conduct stakeholder workshop
Support EDL in design RFP for pilot
Define roles & responsibilities of VPP
Determine prequalification criterias
Define pass/fail for licensing PV-X
Prepare a bylaw to create VPP entities
Design RFP to create VPP entities
Electricité du Liban:
Authorize DSPs to share MV capacity data

Approves PV-X distribution licenses
Design RFP for piloting VPP
Evaluate and Award RFP
Set up Pilot Project
World Bank and Electrité de France:
Run additional decentralized scenario in least cost plan

Support EDL in designing RFP
Support MEW in defining prequalification criterias for VPPs and prepare
bylaw
Figure 8 Schematic of Lebanon power system operation principles, VPP pilot project and VPP rollout plan
Figure 9 Roll out plan of PV-X licenses until 2023
“You have to be willing to be misunderstood if you are going to innovate”
What’s in it for you?

As a local or international investor, this policy is designed to
attract small to medium impact
investors willing to take risks in investing in the infrastructure
of developing countries. The feed in tariff policy, backed by
guarantees from the
central bank to import solar PV equipment, will secure a 16%
IRR and ROI of 20-30% in a period of ten years for your
investment in a new solar PV plant in Lebanon of minimum
size of 600 kW to maximum 25 MW. The social impact
advantages of the policy are five-fold as your investment
would help Lebanon:
1) Get to a 24/7 electricity in two years
2) Save on average up to USD 170 to 300 million in $ reserves
every year
3) Create more than 30,000 jobs in the sector
4) Save 7 million of tons of CO2e
5) Support innovation in Lebanon by pushing in digitalization
of the power sector.
“You have to be willing to be misunderstood if you are going
to innovate” said Jeff Bezos, CEO
of Amazon. Mr. Bezos disrupted the retail sector by
digitalizing operations.
Our vision is to turn Lebanon as an innovative disruptor
developing country that can leapfrog in the operation of virtual
power plants and export his knowledge and savoir-faire to
other developing countries that wish to accelerate their energy
transition. For that we are willing to be misunderstood to turn
the image of diesel generators from a curse to a valuable asset
in the reform of the power sector.
USE OF SMART
MATERIAL FOR
BUILDING ENERGY
EFFICIENCY
PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL (PCM)
Ghina Annan is a senior sustainability specialist and climate

leader with 10 years of experience at Dar al Handasah. She
received her Bachelor of Engineering degree and Master of
Engineering in Applied Energy from the American University of
Beirut in 2014. She has multiple international certifications in
sustainable performance based systems, energy management and
district scale urban development. She is a member of several
Technical Committees including ASHRAE global climate change
and smart building systems. She is a board member in the
Association of Energy Engineers – Lebanon Chapter (AEE) and the
Council on Women in Energy & Environmental Leadership
(CWEEL). She is also a member of the Order of Engineers and
Architects of Beirut - Lebanese Women Committee.
Realizing smart material to

reform our world by ensuring
energy efficiency and reducing
As head of buildings sustainability unit at Dar al Handasah (Shair
carbon footprint and Partners), Balsam Nehme plays an influential role in the
development of sustainable innovative high performance design.
With over 15 years’ experience in the sustainability field, she
facilitates design charrettes, and has a comprehensive background
in building physics, sustainable design, and integrated design
processes. Through the sustainability networking firm-wide; Dar is
now an internationally recognized leader in the sustainable design
movement.
GUEST EXPERTS

Technologies focus on both enhancing performance Bio-based PCMs are the best type to be
and minimizing or eliminating environmental impacts introduced in the construction field since they
with a challenge to keep the commercial implications are sustainable, cheap and available. PCMs
as low as possible. Innovative Phase Change Material reduce the cost of energy by reducing the
(PCM) technology contributes to major energy HVAC runtime & cycling. PCM performance is
consumption reduction in the built environment as responsive to climate zone, project design,
this material discharges adequate energy at phase melting and freezing points and latent heat.
change to make available advantageous heating or Also, the best energy reduction is achieved by
cooling operations. What makes PCMs distinctive is Bio-based PCMs with melting point 29°C. The
the retained high latent heat of fusion which allows payback period of using Bio-based PCMs is less
the absorption of thermal energy and further stores it than 10 years.
throughout the solid-to-liquid phase conversion. In
fact, PCMs effectively preserve internal temperatures The integration of PCMs into various building
at any preferred level exclusive of the utilization of features, including roofs, walls and floors is
gas or fuel. possible.
Essentially, PCMs foster a significant reduced By maintaining the latent heat in the solid liquid
amount of heat loss to the atmospheres in comparison state of the PCM, temperature variations inside
with sensible heat storage. They also discharge and interior spaces is decreased. Hence, peak loads
accumulate heat at a uniform temperature performing due to heating and cooling is significantly
as a regulator scheme. Prominently, PCMs require no reduced.
machine-driven cooling or massive energy density.
PCM categories take account of various origins Buildings in the MENA region are mostly
including inorganic, organic and bio-based distinctive of a hot climates, accordingly PCMs
summarized in the table below: entail a higher melting point. PCMs positioned
in a wall cavity freeze during the night from the
ventilation process. Subsequently, during
daytime he temperature upsurge to more than
the PCM’s melting point, so when the outside
air move into the cavity, the PCM absorb the air
thermal energy causing it to discharge into the
interior environment. Finally, internal
temperatures are dropped.
Key Performance Specification Criteria Shall

Include the following: Latent heat capacity
(KJ), Phase transition temperature (°C),
Thermal conductivity and cycling stability.
PCM contributes to LEED green building rating
system as it enhances the Indoor
Environmental Quality, through promoting
Table 1: Assessment of the main Types of PCMSt
occupants’ productivity, comfort, and well-being. Free Cooling PCM application is evident
PCM applications include air conditioning, heat in particular weather conditions,
pump, free cooling, heat recovery, chilled water especially as low night temperatures
and passive cooling as show in the figure below: supply cold energy storage that may also
be applied during
the day for cooling. This scheme proved
success in the Headquarters of Melbourne
City Council where a cooling tower is
used to decrease wet bulb temperature to
charge PCM tanks in absence of
refrigeration. Again, the cooling energy,
stored in PCM overnight, is then used in
the day all over the building.
A heat recovery system with PCM base, is

incorporated to ensure that heat energy
leaving the furnace is not unexploited but
rather absorbed. PCM thermal Energy
storage charging process starts with
having the elevated temperature exhaust
gases enable the PCM to transition its
phase to liquid while storing the heat in
the form of latent heat capacity. Next, gas
Applying PCM in air conditioning is through a TES
through thermal energy storage causes air
tank implemented into a storage system, storing
combustion flow and while heat is freed
any excess heat or cold. This scheme ensures
the PCM solidifies again.
reduced cooling and heating yet a larger provision
of enough volume storage. As a result, both cooling
Chilled water PCM application considers
and heating loads are shifted to the off-peak times
using +8~/+10°C PCM energy storage.
such that the sources of both cooling and heating
The advantage is exploiting a common
source are not used during the peak periods and
water chiller excluding a low temperature
thus accomplishing lower-cost electricity bills.
Glycol chillers. So, depending on unit
type and location, the anticipated COP is
How does PCM perform in a heat pump? Heat
almost 17-36% improved while making
pumps use air, water, or possibly ground
use of 24/7 hour load distribution.
geothermal energy sources to take away energy
from one side of the refrigeration circuit and
Finally, passive cooling depends on
relocate it to the other side of the refrigeration
normal existing temperatures variations in
cycle. As a result, reduced running costs are
both day and night times. In this passive
anticipated because of a decreased night electricity
cooling system pattern, night cold energy
rates. Moreover, an impactful increase of the
is absorb by the PCM and is then taken
combined coefficient of performance of the Heat
advantage for solar gain absorption in the
pump also considerably diminishes the inclusive
day time.
power requirement of this system.
"Spreading
energy
awareness in
the local
market and
mentoring
young energy
professionals"
The Association of Energy Engineers is present in

Lebanon via two bodies: the AEE Lebanon Chapter
and the AEE Lebanon Training Partner. In 2017, a
group of enthusiastic professionals had the idea of
founding an AEE Chapter in Lebanon with the aim of
creating a national growing network of professionals
in the dynamic fields of energy engineering and energy
management, renewable and alternative energy, power
generation, energy services, sustainability, and related
areas. Moreover, the AEE Lebanon Chapter is involved
in spreading energy awareness in the local market and
mentoring young energy professionals through its
student chapters publications share the word root.
On the training level, the AEE Lebanon Training

Partner in charged with bringing the AEE international
certification programs to Lebanon in order to increase
Lebanese energy professionals’ competence in the
energy and sustainability fields and give them an edge
when competing with other engineers in the MENA
market.
19
We plan to realize
19
our vision as set by
the new board.
What were the key developments for Association of Energy Hence we successfully enlarged the membership base to over 150
Engineers - Lebanon in the last year? members and student members, a growing network of multi-skilled,
diverse but like-minded members that benefit the country while
n 2020 and against all odds, The AEE Lebanon chapter kicked off by enjoying the AEE membership benefits .
renewing its leadership through an e-election, pioneering among We launched a new student chapter at the Lebanese American
similar community circles in Lebanon. The new enlarged and University to raise the number of student chapters to Four. We also
dynamic board set the Chapter vision, founded on 4 Pillars: started a local Council for Women in Energy and Environmental
Leadership (CWEEL). The CWEEL Lebanon Chapter will foster a
A chapter of value to its members, developing a strong and network for women in the energy and environmental industries who
united members’ community, creating business opportunities for can assist in supporting career development for professional women,
members and promoting their achievements. mentor young and aspiring women to pursue technical education and
A chapter of value to Lebanon and its energy sector, focused on careers in the energy and environmental fields, and establish a forum
the training and certification of professionals and on to promote policy in the energy industry.
supporting students for successful energy careers.
A leading national entity in the energy field, building strategic The AEE Lebanon chapter website www.aeelebanon.org is created,
collaboration relationships within the energy and sustainability a quarterly newsletter with rich content highlighting chapter and
circles. members’ achievements and studies is issued, webinar series, large
The dynamic AEE ambassador to Lebanon and its active partner conferences, multi-faceted collaboration initiatives with various
in the MENA region universities and NGOs went along.
In parallel, the AEE Lebanon Training Partner of energy efficiency programs, especially in the
increased remarkably its program offering to 6 industrial sector. Subsidies for fossil fuel-based
certifications, 3 of which being offered for the 1st energy negatively affect our industry, and sparse
time in Lebanon. The AEE training partner grid infrastructure is also a critical factor.
saw an opportunity in the midst COVID 19 On the market level, the energy efficiency jobs
pandemic, offering the training online at a more market in Lebanon is still young and suffers from a
reduced fee and attracting Lebanese expats to this shortage of energy efficiency professionals.
offering. Thanks to this effort, the following However, countries such as UAE and KSA have
certifications were made available: introduced new regulations that mandate a minimum
number of certified staff for the licensing of energy
- Certified Energy Manager (CEM) service and energy efficiency companies. While
- Certified Energy Auditor (CEA) others, such as Jordan and Egypt, are supporting
- Carbon Reduction Manager (CRM) certification programs, Lebanon still misses the
- Certified Water Efficiency Professional (CWEP) legislative framework required for the energy
- Certified Building Commissioning Professional management market to flourish. Improving energy
(CBCP) efficiency can provide
- Certified Measurement and Verification significant benefits to Lebanon, especially
Professional (CMVP) onsidering there is a tremendous opportunity for
Till date the AEE Lebanon Training Partner trained energy efficiency improvements. There is a wide
more than 150 energy professionals and promises to array of measures on both the supply and demand
enlarge its portfolio of certification program in the sides for energy, to boost energy efficiency levels
next year. by promoting stringent environmental, energy-
saving policies to combat climate change.
What is AEE' mission in this constantly changing
environment?
The Association of Energy Engineers® (AEE®),

founded in 1977 by Albert Thumann, is a non-profit The energy efficiency jobs
professional society of over 18,000 members in more
than 100 countries. The mission of AEE is “to market in Lebanon is still
promote the scientific and educational interests of
those engaged in the energy industry and to foster
young and suffers from a
action for Sustainable Development.” shortage of energy efficiency
AEE offers a full array of informational outreach
programs including seminars (live and online), professionals.
conferences, journals, books, and certification
Formal energy efficiency programs and voluntary
programs. Moreover, AEE offers scholarship
measures combined will help the region to maintain
programs through the Foundation of the Association
its economic strength. Energy conservation
of Energy Engineers. The Foundation of the
programs in residential, commercial, and industrial
Association of Energy Engineers is a nonprofit
sectors can significantly reduce carbon emissions
organization that is dedicated to furthering
and augment energy supply. A robust regulatory and
education in energy and management. To date, the
institutionalized framework can help to achieve a
Foundation has awarded over $1,000,000 in
reduction in GHG emissions through a bundle of
scholarships for use by outstanding students. AEE is
non-market based and market-based instruments.
at the heart of the transition to decarbonization,
In general, the energy efficiency and energy
distributed energy and innovation, much needed for
services market in Lebanon is still underdeveloped.
Lebanon,
One of the reasons for the slow development is the
lack of Energy Service Companies (ESCO). For an
How do you see the energy sector developing in
ESCO market to flourish, there are several vital
Lebanon in the next few years? How are the necessities
global trends impacting this country? needed, such as available financing, expertise, and
a mature legal system. The need for energy
The energy sector in Lebanon faces several barriers efficiency is largely overlooked when energy rates
and challenges. Insufficient government policy are subsidized. So, although finance was available
frameworks and regulations are considered to be the to promote rapid growth, the lack of necessity
most significant barrier facing the implementation combined with the immaturity of the legal system
led to a poor environment for ESCO market growth.
What are the plans of AEE in Lebanon and the main
advantages of professionals to join the organization?
We plan to realize our vision as set by the new board and to grow
"Towards an unprecedented steadily while doing so in order to have an increasing positive
contribution to raising the level impact on the energy sector in Lebanon. An increasing number of
professionals from the leading engineering firms, Energy
of knowledge in energy companies, NGOs& Associations and governmental bodies are
management and sustainability seeking the AEE certifications in Lebanon. With this, we are
among Lebanese professionals" heading towards an unprecedented contribution to raising the

level of knowledge in energy management and sustainability
among Lebanese professionals, and to a growth in chapter
Membership advantages also include:
membership and network. As a member of AEE and AEE
- Free monthly webinars from industry experts
Lebanon Chapter, one will be able to access the latest education
- Free access to the AEE Career Hub to post jobs and resumes
- Access to Newsletters, Journals, Magazines & Conference Proceedings
and training in the energy and sustainability field, research and
& Recorded Presentations technical journals, and networking, along with discounts on AEE
- VIP Member Discounts on Conferences & Seminars products and events such as conferences, books, and seminars. As
- Opportunity of recognition of work and contribution through regional a part of a Global Community of Energy Professionals, you are
and international awards
able to connect with professionals who deal with challenges and
- Open channels to AEE international and the opportunities this presents
opportunities similar to those you are facing, and to keep up to
- Belonging to a distinguished network of energy and sustainability
experts date on the latest developments in energy.
LEBANON
CLIMATE ACT around 500 investors worth 35 trillion USD
committed to shifting their investment to
climate change solutions and urged
governments to increase their sustainability
ambition. The We Mean Business Coalition has
registered more than 1000 companies globally
The world is changing, and not because of the that have committed to zero-carbon targets, and
COVID-19 epidemic. Actually, it has been more are joining every year.
changing for some time now. Due to increased
environmental awareness and international
community efforts to address environmental
challenges, the green economy has been one of
"The green economy
the most rapidly growing sector globally. The
private sector investments in renewable energy
has been one of the
have driven prices down and created the market most rapidly growing
sector globally"
forces that favored clean energy over fossil fuels.
Globally, solar photovoltaic installation grew by
34% in just one year during 2018, and its price
dropped by 85% in the past eight years, just to
name one example. Experts predict the end of the This trend will only increase, especially after
combustion engine as early as 2040. the COVID-19 crisis is over. Many
Numerous governments, UN agencies, and governments, such as the European Union, are
organizations are pushing for to end of fossil working on a green economic plan to recover
fuels by 2050, and the private sector is from the economic impact of COVID-19. Thus,
responding positively. Thousands of the urgency to shift to a green economy will
multinational corporations, such as Unilever, increase, providing new investment
Nike, IKEA, TATA Group, Apple, Google, and opportunities.
others are now putting climate change centerstage Lebanon’s economy has reached rock-bottom,
in their business strategy. In 2019, around and any economic strategy will
require rebuilding the economy from scratch.
Reforms are required in all sectors. This
provides Lebanon with a unique opportunity to
rebuild the economy based on the green
economy, the economy of the future, that is
profitable, creates maximum jobs, and is
sustainable.
That is why Green Mind, a Lebanese NGO, in
collaboration with the UN Development
150
Program and the support of the Central Bank of companies have joined
Lebanon and the Ministry of Environment have this program
created the Lebanon Climate Act Program. The
Lebanon Climate Act (LCA) is a platform for
non-state actors, like businesses, unicipalities,
and others, taking leadership on climate
change. Across Lebanon, an increasing number
of businesses, cities, municipalities, and others
are recognizing the economic opportunity
of climate change action and are joining the
LCA.
Program members aims at creating transformational

change towards a decarbonized and climate resilient
economy through leading by example and showing
1000
the economic and social benefits of climate change
action.
More than 150 companies have joined this program
so far, and they have pledged to act on climate
change, not only to protect the environment, but
companies globally
also because it makes economic sense.
that have committed to zero-
Becoming sustainable increases market share and
carbon targets
prepares the company for the economy of the future.
These companies believe that since we are
rebuilding Lebanon’s economy, we should do it right!
www.lebanonclimateact.com
BEIRUT RIVERLESS
A holistic approach, based on systems level
and biomimicry thinking.
Adib Dada is the

founder of
theOtherDada [tOD]
Integrated
Consultancy &
Architecture, which
mission is to activate
projects across
architecture, design,
and art by creating
unconventional links
at the frontier of
science.
What made you think of the concept "Communities need to stop thinking of the river as a dirty canal."
Beirut Riverless?
If you had to name the most industrial effluent, agricultural runoff
The installation of a solar array over important challenge lying ahead and raw municipal sewage. Beirut
Beirut River in 2013. While the project for the “Beirut RiverLESS” idea River is a natural asset that could be
is a great win for the renewable energy to be finalized, what would it be? reclaimed in the same manner as other
sector, it signaled another nail-in-the- cities around the world have managed
coffin for the river, the communities A shift in mindset: to re-nature their urban rivers and turn
alongside it, and the natural Communities need to stop thinking them back into functional ecosystems
environment. Beirut RiverLESS is a of the river as a dirty canal, and and vibrant spaces for community. This
research and action project studying remember the time where their leads to economic empowerment of
the transformation of Beirut River from parents and grandparents used to vulnerable communities and
a natural ecosystem to a waste gather along the banks of the river environmental resilience of the city.
infrastructure, discharging into the to fish, swim, picnic and coexist.
Mediterranean sea. Beirut RiverLESS Ministries and Municipalities need What is your strategy of making this
proposes a set of urban interventions to stop thinking of the river as a dream come true?
with the power to transform an urban waste infrastructure, where the
blight into a healthy socio-economic clean water is pumped at source A holistic approach, based on systems
success-story. and is replaced by solid waste, level and biomimicry thinking. Our
.
strategy breaks the challenges down to environmental problems such as array over the river. While it may have
manageable parts, easy to implement and coastal landfills and unregulated been a useful pilot project, there are
replicate, soft and hard interventions across burning of waste]. The river and its more efficient ways and places to
cities all over Lebanon. These cover surrounding areas are dead develop such projects while reducing
environmental rehabilitation, inclusive environmental as well as almost-dead the negative on the neighborhoods and
urban planning, access to soft mobility, economic zones due to the pollution. communities. Empower communities
green infrastructure… By cleaning the river and valorizing to voice their concerns and act upon
One major step we have taken is the it, we are jump-starting economic them to regenerate their
planting of 2 dense native urban forests in growth and gaining valuable land on neighborhoods.
May 2019, one by the concrete banks of the both sides of the river. The aim is to Recognize and facilitate PPP, offer
river in Sin El Fil, and the other in Ghobeiri. do this with a sensitive long-term incentives to companies and
The Miyawaki method of afforestation we view to avoid short-term economic individuals to positively impact their
employ with our partners, is a low-cost, gains and urban gentrification, surroundings.
proven methodology that has proven to be favoring instead a regenerative We can plant very dense native urban
successful worldwide. It consists of re- circular economy. forests for as little as 8,000 dollars per
wilding very small to large urban The positive impacts would also be 100 square meters. Forests which will
areas, leftover spaces, roundabouts and felt in the tourism sector which has become completely self-sufficient
sidewalks. seen a great expansion and move within 2 years. That means 400 native
Afforestation is scientifically recognized as towards slow and conscious eco- trees and shrubs, which will sequester
one of the most effective ways to mitigate tourism. CO2 and reduce pollution and heat
climate change, reduce urban pollution and levels. That means a restored natural
Which measures would you like to water cycle, recharging are over-
heat island effect, and restore the natural
see taken by the authorities exploited underground aquifers. That
water cycle. Hence its importance as a
/administration to make Beirut means helping Lebanon with its
strategy alongside Beirut River.
RiverLESS a reality? [national voluntary reductions target
To curtail political and administrative
disinterest, our approach is geared towards ??]
First and foremost, stop the massive formulated at COP21, helping
empowering local communities and
dumping of solid waste, industrial businesses comply with the UN
businesses to demand action and take
effluent, agricultural runoff and raw Sustainable Development Goals 11, 13
ownership of these leftover spaces, turning
municipal sewage. Limit the amount and 15. That means giving Lebanon a
them into urban forests and vibrant social
of water pumped at source, to allow chance to become more resilient in the
and economic spaces.
the natural water cycle to be restored. face of worldwide social, economic
Stop the expansion of the solar and climate crisis.
What strategic argument would
determine investors to develop Beirut
RiverLESS?
Environmental degradation costs. The

deterioration of the river and the whole
ecosystems related to it, are costing the
public sector 485 million dollars per year
[as per 2013 data, figure should now be
much higher because of recent
| 8
ENERGY STRATEGIES SUMMIT:
Under the Patronage of the President of the Council of Ministers, His Excellency Dr. The panels were moderated by top experts
Hassan Diab, Energy Strategies Summit 2020: "Mapping the future" was organized by the specialized in the energy sector, who discussed
Order of Engineers and Architects of Beirut - 3rd branch (Electrical Consulting the most prominent issues to renewable energy,
Engineers), the Women Engineers Committee, in collaboration with World Elite
Oil & Gas, Power - generation, transport and
Solutions, with the support of the Ministry of Industry and co-sponsored by UN-ESCWA.
distribution, Smart Cities - energy efficiency,
Around 30 speakers, Lebanese and foreign experts, with senior official levels from the
government and institutions, in addition to top managers, and savvy representatives of cogeneration, e-mobility, and others.
professional associations, had the opportunity to speak their minds in front of their peers, Energy Strategies Summit aimed at providing
in the most important event for the Lebanese energy industry, under the title: Energy all those interested - Government, Parliament,
Strategies Summit 2020, Mapping the Future, that was held on Dec.17th, 2020. public authorities, external partners, with
Panels in the summit addressed the hot topics for the Lebanese and regional energy insights from companies and experts.
industry, in 8 thematic sessions for the leaders of thought in the most dynamic
Lebanese energy industry is currently
organizations, sharing their views on strategies for integration, strategies for
navigating in the troubled waters moved by
sustainability, strategies for technology, and strategies for cooperation.
three types of strategies: In the field strategies,
national strategies and global strategies.
Energy Strategies Summit aimed at providing
all those interested with insights on possible
approaches and actual projects for them to draw
a better image of their future steps.
Influenced by sudden changes in the market,
instability of currency and political scene, or by
unexpected, unannounced and unprepared
global events, companies and authorities have
to take decisions and change their directions for
staying afloat.
National strategies mean, in Lebanon`s case, the
2019 updated policy paper for the electricity
sector, the Lebanon Energy Outlook, published
by IRENA, and all the other sectorial strategies
impacting the energy industry (infrastructure,
agriculture, environment etc.). People and
companies have to take all these into account
when trying to prepare for the near future.
During the whole event, a virtual exhibition
promoting energy and power projects, financial
services, innovative technologies in energy, green
buildings, architects, associations and institutions,
were available on a dedicated platform.
The 2020 edition summoned the most
influential decision makers in Lebanon`s energy
industry in a hybrid format, for an extensive
analysis of the national, regional and corporate
strategies.
2020 was different. We learned to
interact differently, we learned how to
move forward in a more digitalized
manner, but even so, we haven`t lost
MAPPING
our need for human interaction, which
is why we kept Energy Strategies
Summit, in a traditional physical
conference, even if in with restricted
number of participants. This edition,
while hybrid, we provided a broad
THE FUTURE
range of energy topics and brought
together hundreds of practitioners,
developers, experts, governmental
representatives and leaders from
around the region to share best
practices, gain valuable information
and make new connections in the
industry. We’re excited that we now
understand better what our attendees’
worlds look like and discover what
they’ve learned in 2020 and what is
expected from 2021.”
Raluca Buna, event organizer
Inspired by: Organized by: Co-organized by: With the support of: Co-Sponsor: Sustainability Community Safety Supporting Partners: Strategic Media Partners:
Partner: Partner: Partner:
"A CLEAR CONFIRMATION OF
BEIRUT'S STEADFASTNESS"
This a summarized outcome of a long day aiming for the welfare of Lebanon, and its prosperity in renewable energy. In the
middle of the crisis, the coming panels endeavored to light the first light hopefully, in a country full of darkness.
Mrs. Zeina Majdalani (President of the Women Engineers Hoballah urged officials to build economic and financial policies. He
Committee of the Order of Engineers and Architects of Beirut), also stressed the need to build a productive economy and work on
started her opening speech with the progress the Syndicate has corrective actions and reforms to improve the local industry, so as to
achieved in empowering women and enlightening her diminish imports and create jobs for the Lebanese people.
achievements. She stressed the efforts done in coordination with the The Minister of Industry also focused on the importance of alternative
Ministry of Energy and Water facing climate changes, amidst and solar energy, assuring on improving the infrastructure as well.
Lebanon`s crucial economic crisis.
Said Riachi, head of the Electrical Engineers Consulting Branch in
the Order of Engineers and Architects of Beirut, addressed Prime
Minister in the caretaker government, His Excellency Dr. Hassan " HUMANIZING ENERGY
Diab, to indulge the Order of Engineers and Architects in industrial Dr. Angela Wilkinson, Secretary-General and CEO of World Energy
projects in Lebanon, and not to neglect its role to contribute in Council, started her speech by recalling the origins of the world energy
developing the country. council in 1924, where the first step to practice the world's power
President of the Order of Engineers and Architects of Beirut, Jad strategies of humanizing was launched, while the world was recovering
Tabet, assured the necessity of such conferences that discuss energy from a global influence pandemic back then. She compared it to the year
strategies in the middle of climate changes and progress of 2021, highlighting the importance of energy in the lives of everyone,
technology and thanked the organizers and World Elite Solution for especially while people are working remotely, during the Covid-19
that. He also referred to the role of the Order of Engineers and pandemic.
Architects in Lebanon in such approaches, while facing Dr. Wilkinson said: “Energy is more than carbon, it's a bigger story of
globalization challenges. human development”. She assured the need to prepare for the term
His Excellency, Dr. Imad Hoballah, the Minister of Industry, global energy demand growth too, where we should anticipate a tsunami
representing the President of the Council of Ministers, His of demand, as this was clear during the Covid-19 crisis, which already
Excellency Dr.Hassan Diab, considered the summit as an example stressed the world, explaining how the recovery process will not be easy.
of Beirut's persistence and flexibility in the middle of the crisis, She also revealed that a new social energy agenda is on the rise, and it
calling on politicians to move forward to form a transparent, will “involve rethinking the metrics from the EST reapportion agenda,
independent government, to meet citizens’ needs and proceed with that is now engaged with many energy businesses with an even better
the reforms. picture.” She said the energy industry is starting with a new energy
"
"Lebanon needs to be prepared for new and
different energy opportunities and challenges."
transition for people and the planet during the 24th world energy
congress in Abu Dhabi.
Dr. Wilkinson stressed how people have changed, and how they are
supporting energy approaches now in a faster manner and more
"
fundamental than before, driven by the new pattern of demand-side and
destructive innovation, which lead to improving diversity in energy.
She also pointed out how energy consumption differs from one country
to another. She gave an example, where energy strategies in Africa or
Asia might not be appropriate in Europe and vice versa.
Lebanon, she said, also needs to be prepared for new and different
energy opportunities and challenges. She continued, “that's why over a
decade ago we have carried the world energy trilemma index, as an
objective tool, designed to help readers across the world to balance the
need of energy security, for the sake of better equity and environmental
sustainability.
Strategies for Integration

In energy, staying inside your box condemns you to irrelevance. More
and more companies decide to take actions outside their traditional field
or outside national borders, in order to capitalize on new opportunities or
"
to minimize anticipated perils: From power generation to energy supply,
" from natural gas production to electricity, and maybe further, from
and
downstream oil to e-vehicles infrastructure. In this panel, the discussion
was performed about some case studies and insights from top-level
decision-makers. This discussion was between Mrs. Radia Sedoaui, Dr.
Joseph Al Assad, Gabriel de Lastours and was moderated by Mrs. Laury
Haytayan,
Laury Haytayan, started the session with an introduction about the
misunderstanding of integration in Lebanon, especially when it is related
to energy, “locally it is related to electricity only, where people wonder
if they will have electricity on January 2021 or not.”
Haytayan stated that it's very important to understand that what worked
in 2010 might not work in 2020, especially when it comes to financing
projects. She also revealed how Lebanese are confused about whether
they should focus on electricity or on oil, or on renewable energy.
Dr. Joseph Al Assad stated that oil and gas are hot topics in
Lebanon, and more public than renewable energy, though
they should be complementing each other, as a part of a
whole solution, assuring that it is not possible to have
totally renewable energy in the near future, in the country.
Regarding projects of the ministry of energy, he revealed
"
the prepared _but not yet accomplished plans, blaming it
on the crucial circumstances and political instability in
Lebanon.
In 2016, he said, the Ministry of Energy in Lebanon was
the first country in the region to adopt an energy renewable
plan, while conducting different consultations to prepare
the 2030 vision. “We have set a target of having 10 percent
of renewable energy in 2020 for heating and electricity,
and we have worked to develop the second phase too,
achieving acceptable results.”
Regarding the Akkar project, he said it is in process, but
needs more financial support.
"
BEIRUT - GENEVA - LONDON - BERLIN
"Predictability is what companies want and
Gabriel de Lastours elaborated about his journey in renewable what their shareholders appreciate most"
energy programs in the region, whereas Lebanon was involved,
and revealed trials to ensure Lebanon attracts international Lebanon, the operation needed, and other details in the matter.
"
investments, to support the Ministry of Energy in transmission To have productive solar energy in Lebanon, Comaty
and distribution, reminding again that it is not possible to reach recommended the reduction of imports, “and that's how we
for 100 percent renewable energy in the country. increase our energy security with fewer imports, creating local
He also complained of the delay in the execution of projects in jobs, and saving resources.” To prove his point, Comaty
Lebanon, assuring the need for proper implementation, abided by presented some energy analysis, about how the process to solar
international standards, and following clear protocols, and adhere energy works in the industrial and commercial sides, even at the
to the timeline, so as to gain investment. public sector.
Regarding the Akkar project, he awarded ‘the work done so far.” Strategies for Sustainability
De Lastours emphasized the need to create a transparent and Predictability is what companies want and what their
steady environment, especially on the political aspect, so as to shareholders appreciate most. From different fields, the speakers
"
attract investors. commented on the challenges they met, providing us with their
diagnosis and their solutions. They also presented their forecasts
An Alternative Emergency Action Plan for Lebanon on how each of them prepares for further developments in their
Farid Comaty elaborated 3 key questions: Why do we need an sector.
alternative emergency action plan? What's the plan? And how are Zeina Majdalani: Engineers and architects from different fields,
"
we going to apply it? who are pioneers in energy and water sectors, will comment on
He explained how digital retail put everything online in all the challenges they have met, providing us with the diagnosis
countries in the world, and emphasized the importance of and the solutions, and how each of them prepared for the further
transmission of energy, referring to the importance of that in developments in the prospective sector.
pushing Lebanon to go forward in applying renewable energy Ghina Annan started her speech by elaborating about the
with diesel, referring to the challenges it faces regarding importance of healthy buildings for our well-being, especially
pollution and cost, and the steps taken to solve such factors. during the quarantine, referring to other consequences of the
Comaty recommended an adjustment to the current plan that was pandemic, that imposed isolation and working remotely, and the
launched in 2010 in that matter, where the technology costs of effect of that on human mental health, by decreasing stressful
renewables back then were different from the current time. He impacts and challenges, and creating a better environment.
explained how the plan aimed at getting power 24/7 in 2 years, She pointed out also the importance of healthy buildings in
and how it aimed also to reduce our import deposit, so as to means of design, like air ventilation, and construction prevention
create local jobs and save storage. filtration, provided with high water and food quality, and healthy
Comaty cleared out that currently, “the plan is now not ambitious light exposure where the acoustic comfort is being improved by
enough in solar.” He explained how the plan needs 4 gigawatts of meeting all the above standards.
solar by 2025, and “we will reduce diesel use by 80 percent”, In addition to that, she assured the importance of avoiding
revealing the need of future power plants operations in Lebanon hazardous material such as volatile organic compounds.
to provide services, to grasp 1.6 gigawatts, “and this could be She also explained the criteria of a healthy building that is safe to
applied through attracting thousands of investors.” our wellbeing, revealing important statistics showing that by
He said, “batteries don't generate electricity by themselves”, sticking to the design strategies and complying with them, people
advising to estimate the cost of the size of the battery in will be more productive.
Speaking of heritage conservation, Rima Sorour Al-Housseiny applying it to health and all other sectors, to get more than
gave Beirut as a typical example regarding urban challenges. She 50 percent energy saving. She revealed that he can be done
said that “The definition of the cultural heritage has been in water efficiency plan too, by saving water in the medical
changing by time, and currently it is not anymore about the and kitchen equipment, and efficient waste management.
physical and geographical, rather about movable items, and about Racha Itani, the expert in sustainability development,
the intangible practices and values among people and revealed the importance of a resilient city in the middle of
communities.” She described building up heritage as a picture of a crisis as in 202O, and how they are able to survive from
the cultural practices and beliefs, social memories, or traditional disasters, and sustain wellbeing.
ways of the life of communities. Suzy Hoayek talked about the sustainability of the water
In 2015, she added, the UNDP adopted the 2030 agenda, and the sector in Lebanon, elaborating the plans for water
SDG 11 title was sustainable cities, which make human sustainability, to fulfill the needs of the future generation
settlements inclusive safe and guard the world’s cultural and while facing climate change.
natural heritage, amplifying that the snow heritage is taking a lot She also revealed the importance of the availability of
of importance worldwide. water, while providing affordable drinking water equitable
So, she continued, “heritage plays an important role in setting the to all, and preparing water policy in that matter, assuring
boundaries”, stressing the need to balance between the past, the on the reduction of pollution, and adhering to water
present, and the future, while having a comprehensive approach resources management, focusing on the need to move
regarding the physical, the economic, the social spiritual, and forward in renewable energy.
governance issues. She also revealed a major problem in Lebanon, regarding
Balsam Nehme referred to energy and water efficiency, where the hidden locations for around 60 to 65,000 illegal wells,
we need to reduce local carbon, and reduce the demands by, and the danger that it may cause.
GLIMPSE OF HOPE
NEW WATER
STRATEGY IN
LEBANON
During the Energy Strategies Summit 2020, Suzy
Hoayek, Advisor to the successive Ministers of Energy
and Water for the Water sector since 2016, stressed the
sustainability of the water sector and elaborated the plans
for water sustainability, to fulfill the needs of the future
generation, while facing climate change.
One of the points highlighted was the importance of
providing affordable drinking water equitable to all, and
preparing water policy in that matter, assuring on the
reduction of pollution, and adhering to water resources
management, focusing on the need to move forward in
renewable energy.
She also revealed a major problem in Lebanon, regarding
the hidden locations for around 60 to 65,000 illegal wells,
Suzy Hoayek, Advisor to the successive Ministers of Energy and Water for
and the danger that it may cause. the Water sector since 2016
In her presentation, Hoayek elaborated the axes of
National Water Sector Strategy as governance (Targeting
MoEW & WE thru TA, Capacity Building, Legal &
Institutional reforms, etc.), climate change (Hydrometric, The new water strategy, is by far one of the most complex strategies
meteorological, hydrogeological, Flood and drought create for the water sector in Lebanon, targeting all the problems that
studies thru the reactivated LCWMC), and infrastructure exist, solutions for each of them a whole new approach regarding
(CEDRE, Grants, Soft loans, through MoEW and WE’s.). groundwater. In that regard, it is worth mentioning the strategic
She pointed out the aims of the Ministry of Energy in components covered by this new plan: sustainable & Integrated
sustainable and integrated management of the water Management of the Water Sector, Legal & Institutional Reforms,
sector, revealing the strategic components as financial & Reporting & Monitoring, O&M, Services Coverage, Fighting Climate
commercial reforms, legal & institutional reforms, Change, Financial & Commercial Reforms, and Capacity Building.
capacity building, service coverage, fighting climate The strategy reviews all the water, wastewater, and irrigation needs
change, reporting and monitoring. across Lebanon, existing operational systems and identified gaps that
She also referred to the challenges in that matter: Human should be filled to cover the needs of all the citizens across the territory;
resources, financial -commercial framework, financial gaps that were translated into projects in all three sectors, and these
balance and billing system, supervision, monitoring and projects prioritized by order of urgency and impact.
reporting, operating and maintenance of facilities and The cost estimate of the water governance priority action plan is 14,3
services, information system and the plans to overcome million USD and the cost of infrastructure projects goes up to 8,25 USD
each of these challenges. for all three sectors.
Strategies for technology
Most of us believe that there is a technology for each of our main things: the technologies used, and the innovative measures used
professional needs. Strangely enough, it seems like technology has upstream power sector, and the technologies used in the downstream and
solutions even for needs that we do not identify as such yet. used sectors.
Nevertheless, we are threatened by a lack of manpower or cyber- For the power sector, the trend is to move towards a clean intelligent
attacks. The next panel discussion is about renewable energy and its decent, and flexible grid. And the way to do this is to promote the use of
challenges in the digital world. advanced metering infrastructure smart grid internet.
Yousef Ghantous: Discussion today is about energy, digitization, We are promoting renewable energy levels and energy efficiency
and innovation. Digitization is present and energy will be part of it. measures notably heat pumps to cater to the heating demand, which is a
In the 4th industrial revolution, artificial intelligence is of great very important factor in the building sector.
interest. Our panelists will discuss that with young engineering We are targeting the shape to transform the regular consumers into
experts, and shareholders in Lebanon’s renewable and green prosumers, meaning that not only the consumption of electricity or
energy. energy in general.
Rawad Nasser: LCEC is an active player in the energy sector in As well as the contribution to energy and electricity production, this can
Lebanon, and it has recently developed a renewable energy outlook be done via demand-side measures, change trading pear to pear trading,
for 2030. The target for 2030 is to supply 30 percent of the total behind the meter battery storage, which are all innovative measures that
electrify consumed from renewable sources. This plan was help to transform the consumer to prosumer.
developed in collaboration with the international renewable energy Regarding electric mobility and the transport sector, there are pilot
agency, and lead by the Ministry of Energy and Water. projects all around the world that are combining a smart charging
The LCEC is currently developing an action plan for 2050, under infrastructure for electric vehicles and combining them to do control
the guidance of the Ministry of Energy, and now the plan is in the systems with the grid to provide ancillary services and to allow better and
intermediate level, trying to reach successfully the 2030 targets. feel the more flexible operation of the grid.
The documents here include a strategic policy that measures Alan Aoun: I'm sure that most of you haven't heard of blockchain
different aspects of financial legal regulations. However, for the technology, but most of you have heard about Bitcoin, the famous
sake of this panel technological part, we can divide them into 2 cryptocurrency and digital currency. It has been trending lately.
If I want to send you money, I have to pay the bank to
do the transaction. So I'll be paying my bank and
you'll be paying your bank to do this transaction. But
with Cyprus currency and blockchain, we can
exchange bitcoin without paying for it. The benefits of
blockchain technology are that it gives you more
transparency, more privacy, and more security. It's a
new infrastructure and a new concept.
Rudy Shoushany spoke about cybersecurity in
renewable energy, which is a new tool, in the middle
of technology fast growth, as well as digital
transmissions, assuring security methods.
He revealed how technology was used the most
during the current pandemic, which he considered
unsafe, due to the absence of security.
Shoushany gave examples of the latest hacks in the
world, and how major cities' systems went down
because their systems were hacked.
Blockchain is actually about technology. Most of you As to Lebanon, the security systems are not updated, and this raises dangerous risks,
know the World Wide Web, it's the layer that covers especially for companies, he revealed.
the internet, so when you want to access a web page, “Even if we buy new transformers, it might be broken if not secured. Thus, power is
you go to www. You write it, and you write the the main source here, and without it, things might become critical, especially when
webpage name and you access information of that humans are the risk since the date of hacking could not be precisely determined.”
web page, so blockchain is parallel to the www. It's a Wael Zmerly emphasized the importance of electricity in heat pumps, especially for
new layer on top of the internet, and a new concept of the future. Heat pumps, he said, has a good advantage, and it is characterized by
trading or doing data management. It’s totally high efficiency for saving and preserving clean energy, where it can be used in all
different from the conventional structure clout sectors, with small spaces. Zmerly pointed out the importance of creating awareness
computing, or the conventional system where you and promoting heat pumps in Lebanon since it is beneficial for energy demands. He
have a server. With blockchain, you don't have a also appreciated the the heat pump project that is in process in Lebanon, with the
server. It allows us to exchange information and data, support of the Italian government.
but it gives us a new thing that is not possible with the
conventional infrastructure. So the World Wide Web
can be described as the internet of information. You
can exchange information; you go to a book side to
read information. you can send emails and receive
emails too. You can vote over blockchain, and you
can exchange in the energy sector. You can exchange
carbon credits, and this is one of the benefits of the
blockchain.
The way the blockchain network is constructed gives
you more security cyber security. It allows new
features like peer-to-peer trading, where you don't
have to pass through party intermediaries.
Block chain is peer-to-peer networking, so we don't
have to go through intermediary levels. We can
exchange directly lowering the cost of the transaction.
The Other Forest: A Nature-Based Solution for Ecological and Social
Regeneration in Cities
Adib Dada elaborated on the challenges we are facing in the
environmental aspects, regarding water and air pollution, and
extreme fatal heat, as an outcome of climate changes. He referred
t"o a i r p o l l u t i o n a s t h e t o p m a t t e r i n t h e r e g i o n , e x p l a i n i n g t h e
methods to reach a healthy environment.
He gave beneficial examples to fight the dangerous consequences
of climate change, like urban cars, water cycles, landscapes, and
others.
He also pointed out what Lebanon has done in this matter.
Strategies for cooperation

The need for renewable energy is growing every day, and this
needs good investment and finance. What are the challenges that
face Lebanon in that matter? The next panel discussed this in a
matter of regulations in the middle of unstable conditions.
Mobarek spoke about financing renewable energy in Lebanon,
where the key aspect lies in stable conditions, financially and
economically, and politically. In addition to that, he emphasized
the importance of strengthening the private sector, maintaining
currency stability and security, in addition to other vital factors
like renewable energy. He brought out concerns regarding
industry and access to foreign exchange, especially during the
latest crisis.
Mobarek assured the necessity of improving the operation
network & collection. He also stressed applying international
standards.
Souraya Machnouk revealed the factors required for investment in
private sectors from legal perspectives. She said, there are many
mentioned above factors that are missing in Lebanon.
To financing any project, she added, investors must assure
transparency in the entire process, and the agreement as well. She
also stressed abiding by international standards.
Jil Amine discussed Akkar project, and the role of renewable
energy in Lebanon, explaining how the business there has
improved up. He also revealed their work in Tunisia and Jordan,
through supporting farmers, especially those in remote areas.
"The energy
infrastructure
is becoming
more and more
networked and
digitized."
What are the Cybersecurity measures that frameworks, for IOT usage, private public partnership in
should be taken by companies in this field? energy production, adoption of renewable energy legislation
and incentives (Private companies and Residential with grid
With all the opportunities stated above related to payback similar to Tesla innovations).
digitization, Cybersecurity is becoming more and more
crucial in protecting the data (IOT devices and How do you think Covid-19 affected this field?
customers data) and securing the continuity of the grid What lessons have we learned or should have
from hackers/state sponsored attacks as we have seen in
neighboring countries (KSA Shamoon Virus in2012, learned?
Iran Stuxnet virus in 2009, Ukraine Blackenergy Virus The uncertainty surrounding public health, confinement
in 2015) where hackers shutdown the whole system measures and the economy, has directly affected the energy
using a special customized virus. sector and lead to lowering energy needs thus lowering
Thus measures are needed to name a few, like Global coal demand , Oil demand, gas demand and energy
strategies, legislations, infrastructures protection acts, demand where some countries shutdown traditional coal
cybersecurity audits, updates to old infrastructure, systems and depended fully on renewable energy.
Cybersecurity gap That also helped achieving Paris climate agreement (COP
What are the transformations that you are 21), which is a big push of renewable energy and best
available technology adoption.
expecting from the public sector? As a country we could depend less on heavy fuel HFO and
(in terms of legislation, regulations, petcoke dependency and start switching to renewables also
frameworks, incentives) start deploying decentralized Distributed energy systems
(DESs) – in which power is generated and stored at or near
Different transformation could be adopted by the where it will be consumed – are enhancing efficiency and
public sector if it went ahead with a full digital transparency and making energy infrastructure more robust
transformation to name a few Strategies, best practice and secure continuity.
Considering the fast digitization of the industry
and the energy sector, what challenges are we
facing in Lebanon?
Though billions of dollars have been invested so far in the national We should not forget the Cyber security challenges and threats. As, in the last
energy sector, yet one can say, that this latter is still not functioning couple of years, the world started including the energy sector as part of the
properly. Its infrastructure is decaying, thus awaiting badly for a infrastructure protection due to its importance and its outdated SCADA
rehabilitation and reinforcement. With Hope that soon new power systems. For example, in 2017, EU published “Cyber Security in the Energy
plants with the Best Available Technologies will be on the grid Sector” to guide the European countries on how to implement and think about
supported surely by alternative renewable energy sources such as the the Cybersecurity emerging threats.
solar and wind power farms plants. In Lebanon, the current cyber security strategy that has been approved by the
In the recent years and especially during Covid-19, The Global Council of Ministers (COM) in August 2019, has slightly addressed the energy
adoption of Technology, has highlighted new risks, challenges and sector. It was only from high level protection with no details.
opportunities due to fast digitization and deployment of emerging
technologies.
The energy infrastructure is becoming more and more networked Rudy Shoushany is a multidisciplinary technologist with 20 years in
and digitized. For instance, the usage of IOT devices for smart Information & Communication Technology field. Rudy has been
energy reporting/metering; thus enabling a better efficiency, aiding organizationsin strategic IT Governance, Cybersecurity and
optimizing the network, boosting the performance, controlling the performance management in improving effective and efficient
electricity abuse, lowering the maintenance cost and providing
oversight of IT enterprise and becoming a strategic business partner
emissions readings (carbon emissions/footprint). By the day, the
while keeping Risk Optimized business value.
cost of this IOT technology is decreasing, encouraging its adoption.
The full promise of a smart grid cannot be reached without
embracing a full digital transformation strategy.
REESTART - Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for
Sustainable Energy Transition and reinforced trust between
SMEs (small and medium enterprises) and ESCOs (Energy
Service Company) is a EU co-funded project and is part of the
ENI (European Neighborhood Instrument) Program within the
initiative to “Promote innovation and entrepreneurship in
support of Lebanon’s clean energy transition”. REESTART is a
country committed Project, so our goal is to reach different
sectors and cover different areas of the country. The final pilot
projects will be the successful best practices to be replicated
in the future, so the selection will take in consideration the
variability and the diversification of geographical area and
Enterprises sectors.
REESTART
What is your outlook regarding the What are the greatest challenges that
energy industry in Lebanon at this you faced since the beginning of the
moment? project?
"REACH DIFFERENT My position as external observer may not I can summarize the greatest challenges in
SECTORS AND COVER be exhaustive, as I started to work in this the following experiences: launching a
sector in Lebanon in February 2020, but I cooperation Project in a new Country with
DIFFERENT AREAS OF will try to give an objective point of view. new colleagues, new personal and
THE COUNTRY" During the last months I had the professional dynamics to be discovered
opportunity to meet over than 33 during an exceptional case as the COVID19
Companies (most of them in the Energy Pandemic era; second understanding the
interview with Gabriella Esposito, ICU Sector) and the three things that I have energy sector dynamics with all the
learned during these exchanges are: the barriers that a Country as Lebanon has;
Institute for University Cooperation passion and the expertise of the people third the escalation of the economical and
that are running their business in energy energy crisis that affected this country in
field since years; the legal and the financial 2020: Financial Default in March, Currency
barriers that the Energy sector has depreciation (80%) in April, Lockdown and
(absence of legal framework to guarantee Businesses Closing in May; Protest and
and minimize the investment risks, Energetic crisis in June; food crisis and
absence of trust between companies and second lockdown in July, Beirut Blast in
financial institutions, disappointment August. All these factors have been
versus the actual governmental frame to contribute to increase the level of
work on clean energy); the potential and challenges that I have faced to run and
the willingness to make a change with the develop the project in an important and
right Strategies and the right People crucial sector as the green energy sector in
(opportunities). Lebanon.
GABRIELLA
ESPOSITO
Project Manager for
REESTART in Energy and
Environment Cooperation
Development Sector
What criteria must a company meet to be Programme in order to improve your skills
eligible for funding? (Technical, Financial, Legal); spread REESTART
Project within your network.
We can consider as selection criteria the What are the main benefits for companies to
following: Sector of activity, Geographic
apply to the project, besides the financing?
location; Geographic market coverage (import-
export); Company Size; Energy mix; Energy flow
diversification; Potential for replicability of EPC The main benefits for the companies who want to
Contract; Energy Audit output; EE and RE apply are intangible: be part of an energy network
measures proposed (Innovation, Feasibility, that has as main goals the development of mutual
Payback period, Monitoring & Verification); trust between companies and the creation of a
Diversity and replicability of the EPC contract more enabling environment for Energy
proposed; Operation, Maintenance & Customer Companies to operate and grow in order to
Services; Project replicability and increases levels of investment in Renewable
representativeness. If we consider the Energy Energy and Energy Efficiency. The Energy
Service Companies, as the ones that will Companies that will apply to REESTART will
implement the Pilot Projects and will follow the benefit as well of a Capacity Training Program
monitoring of the EE/RE measures I would like that aims to provide technical and financial
to suggest to follow the following process: assistance to the local experts and local
Apply the ESCO Survey online in order to define companies that are running energy projects since
the potential to became an ESCO; Participate years in Lebanon and Abroad and in order to scale
the Capacity Building up their business.
Smart Mobility - Leveraging technology,
financing to accelerate implementation,
and avoiding becoming obsolete
Lea Kai started the session by defining smart Here, she addressed the ministry of energy and
mobility as a network or a system that water to work on preparing the appropriate
connects people to opportunities, such as infrastructure to make things easier for the
services, healthcare, education, and others. electrified vehicles to perform better.
Kai revealed smart mobility as combining too Maroun Charabati said there is a new opportunity
many things into one, like combining for the coming decades, from an environmental
demands from energy perspectives, perspective, for reducing carbon emissions, and
environment perspectives, cost perspectives, decreasing the usage of all petrol, diesel, and
and time efficiency perspectives. pollution. As far as Lebanon is concerned, he
Kai described that it is very important to declared that it is a consuming country that has
create solutions in Lebanon, wondering if always been driven by the private sector, and
there is a will to activate the ecosystem in hence it will only witness and adopt electric
the country to venture into this and to start vehicles since it is not the country that decides
creating innovative technologies and really how this technology works. He stated, “We,
solutions. as Lebanese population is late adapters because
Regarding electric vehicles, Kai brought out we use a lot of second-hand cars.”
a major problem in Lebanon, that is not valid Charabati believes that the secondhand electric
for electrical cars, implying the poor vacant cars will increase in Lebanon after three or
infrastructure that suffers from insufficient four years from now. And the country will witness
provision of developmental resources and a lot of cars in the market, he said. But “we will
needs repair and maintenance, to be able to adopt these cars in a later stage than the European
receive the new technology. and Northern American countries.”
He also revealed the fear of losing battery storage, where Lebanon
won’t be able to charge it, knowing that the country suffers from the
economic crisis. Hence, he recommended the installation of an electric
network charger before buying any electrical vehicle.
Michel Ange Medlej, a senior policy advisor for energy that has been
providing his expertise to the Lebanese minister of energy and workers
cabinet since 2010. He specifically gives advice on sustainable
development in the oil and gas sectors while leading the development
of energy transition strategies, mainly in the transport sector.
Medlej has been urging the Lebanese government for 10 years from
now to create a strategic plan for energy, so as to be able to integrate
transport and communication, in order to apply the smart mobility
features.
Dr. Charbel Mansour defined smart mobility as a need and a solution to
tackle the problems of mobility but in a smart different way. He
explained: “We need to understand what is the current trend and solve
problems from the supply side”, revealing that where there is high
traffic, there is a need for more mobility. Hence, the increase in
mobility demands providing more space for roads, and this is the
supply-side approach. He stated that this step brings the solution for a
very short period, “and after that, you see again that there is more
congestion, more pollution, and other externalities; So instead of
thinking of the supply side, now you have to think of the demand side.”
He added, technology means passengers, cars, bicycles, airplanes, and
all other means that require transport. Thus, this requires evolved
systems to move from one point to another or, where we use all of
those modes and all people making all the trips all the time, to ditch the
destinations and improve the technology which improves the
efficiency.
Mansour revealed an example to justify his point, saying: let’s assume
that someone would like to go and buy some goods. The first question
he should ask himself, whether he can avoid making this trip or at least
reduce the mileage, or substitute this by staying home and buying
online.
Gilbert Tegho defined Smart mobility as the “way people combine
multiple modes of transport into a journey and divert from the usual
way of using a single mode of transport, like the car for example going
from point A to point B.”He added, “smart mobility is about planning
and breaking this journey into multiple modes that are more efficient,
less expensive, with the ability of a person to arrive faster and have a
better impact on the planet.”
Tegho stated that the world is tending towards smart mobility, for a long time, in the middle of many challenges and problems, like in
Herb Hackathon which theme was to reduce pollution in the city, while all the youth that participated in this program focused on one
thing, that is finding parking in the city. He called on to a smarter way of thinking, like using smart devices such as our smart TV, and
phones.
As far as Lebanon is concerned, as it lacks public services, he stated that we have seen examples of solutions given to avoid traffic, for
example in the center of the city, through electric scooters, that are also being used by university students, especially that many cannot
afford buying cars. Thus, Tegho considered the above example as a way to introduce electric mobility by planning the journey
properly.
Electric vehicles
effect on
infrastructure
As the adoption rate of electric vehicles increases,

charging is becoming a concern for traditional grids. With
an estimated 1 billion electric vehicles to hit on the road
Rabih Medawar is an energy and electric utility consultant, trainer and a part
by 2050, how will the increase in power demand for time instructor at the Lebanese University. With more than 10 years of
charging the huge number of cars impact the electrical experience in the field, Rabih worked on major electrical infrastructure
projects especially in the power distribution sector. He is specialized in
power grid?
operation & maintenance, electrical assets testing and energy efficiency. Also
The way power grids were traditionally sized was
assisted in research and implementation of several e-mobility initiatives. Rabih
essentially to meet peak load demands. Whether on the is an electrical engineer and holds an MBA in management. He is a certified
local distribution level, the medium to low voltage energy manager, carbon reduction manager and certified water efficiency
transformers level, the medium voltage distribution grid professional efficiency professional.
or primary substations taking power from the transport

loop, an uncontrolled simultaneous charging trend will
pose a serious challenge to the power system, causing it to
areas load profiles… These are only two examples of the
fail and requiring huge investment costs in case the
different scenarios that will be faced when mass e-
mitigation plan doesn’t account for out of the box
mobility is adopted.
thinking.
Depending on the type of charging being used, how, when
and where EV charging is occurring, the impact on the
The way a vehicle is used often dictates the charging
grid is both for the short term and long term. From
regime e.g., in the case of a mass rollout for electric
different control strategies and regulatory priorities to the
buses in a certain region, the majority of buses will
future expansion, digitalization and renewables
have the whole night to charge, whereas in the case of a
typical nine to five white collars, drivers will plug their integration plans, the mass rollout of electric vehicles can
cars after returning home from work, this will coincide be a mixed blessing, especially for already congested
with the peak demand load time for typical residential grids like our own.
T H E F U T U R E O F
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CONFERENCE & EXPO
Creating opportunity for a better tomorrow!

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2nd edition:
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Publisher: Raluca Buna
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Lebanon's Energy Pulse 2021

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Lebanon's Energy Pulse 2021

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THE EXCLUSIVE

Lebanon's Energy Pulse

February 2021 | the-exclusive.digital

H.E. RAYMOND GHAJAR, FORMER

DR. TONY ISSA, VICE-PRESIDENT ITP

SARAH MORSI, REGIONAL DIRECTOR AFD

RABIH OSTA, GENERAL MANAGER

USE OF SMART MATERIAL FOR SUCCESS STORY:

ENERGY STRATEGIES SUMMIT 2020:

REGEND BY ESCWA GLIMPSE OF HOPE: INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY:

THE NEW WATER AN ALTERNATIVE

THE FUTURE OF INFRASTRUCTURE

"Renewables are able to

Energy and Water (MEW) in Lebanon.

To know more about LCEC:

energy@lcec.org.lb @LCEC.lebanon @LCEC.tweets

in innovating programs delivering results that exceed the set goals.

primary energy savings and end-use measures.

Lebanon Committee of the World Energy Council (WEC)..

Back in 2014 the installed capacity of distributed PV solar

"REGEND is currently preparing for

WHILE THE WORLD

In a time of global Lockdown, in the middle of the

Considering the unstable situation of the country and

According to Said, “the main challenge in this

"Our project was a

THE FUTURE OF SOLAR –

Solar skins are a novel PV technology to integrate

Space-based solar power (SBSP) involves collecting

Novatec Solar recently commissioned a promising energy

Some of the technologies mentioned in this article exist already,

Part of Inspired by Powered by: Organized by Strategic Partner: Knowledge Partner::

October 11- Beirut, Lebanon

Since its conception in 2010, Earth Technologies has

ET solar kits are a big seller for Earth Technologies

A lot of the renewable energy companies in

What type of adaptive measures the company /

We had to cut costs drastically, reduce our operating cost and

What is the status of your current project(s) and

A few projects with NGO's continue on track. Old projects

What is your message to clients and

What type of adaptive measures the company

At FREE energy we reduced our exposure to EPC

What is the status of your current

As the country is struggling to find its balance, our

"We want to change the world.

What type of adaptive measures the

Due to the crisis, we have created an appropriate

What is the status of your current

We have lost half of the projects due to the financial

This sector is the future, so its progress is significant

What is your message to clients and

was established in 2016

NOTRE DAME DE SECOURS

MARINA FROZEN FRIES

www.ecosys.com.lb LIBANJUS PHASE 1+2

SMLC PHASE 1+2 - PEPSI

HOTEL DIEU DE FRANCE

SERUM AND SOLUTIONS

KAA EL RIM SPRINGS FIELD

Interview with Mr. Sami Soughayar, CEO of Matelec

What type of adaptive measures the