Ecological construction in the West Bank

The first geothermal system in Palestine was implemented in the Northwest of Ramallah, in the West Bank. Entitled MED-ENEC, the project is carried out by the Union Construction and Investment Company (UCI), in cooperation with the Palestine Energy Authority (PEA) and the support of the EU.

Julien Théron, Eurojar

Like other cities in the Mediterranean, the West Bank has a complex energy production system based on a collective structure (Palestine Electric Company, established in 1999, with 33% of public shareholders and 67 % of private shareholders), plus local generators.

In this context, energetic efficiency in terms of sustainable production, costs and environmental impact is rarely optimal, which consequently reduces territorial development opportunities. Besides, the Palestinian productive capacity remains insufficient, which requires importing electricity from Israel and Jordan, hence a constant Palestinian reliance on neighbors for energy, according to the explanation given by Imad Khader in 2007 during the MED-ENEC conference on Renewable Energy Construction Businesses.

The pilot project MED-ENEC, implemented in Al Bireh, aimed at exploring new methods of optimizing energy production. If solar energy is already sufficiently utilized at a rate of 70% for water-heaters, the project has highlighted the geothermal source of energy, or the use of thermal differences between the ground surface and the underground.

Involving the private sector
This project is carried out by the Palestinian Energy Authority, the public structure in charge of this field. The objective, according to Zafer Milhem from the Palestinian Electricity Regulatory Council, is “to solve the problem of lack of energetic resources and high costs of energy in Palestine, to promote all types of renewable energies in the construction sector as well as to involve other developers in order to guarantee the establishment of this technology in the construction sector.” But the Palestinian Authority was aspiring to be merely the mediator that would ensure the implementation of the project by the private sector. The idea was for the Authority to “evaluate progress and diffuse technology and know-how to the contracting parties and consultants related to the construction field.”

The development of the private sector will be definitely beneficial for the Palestinian consumer, who, according to Khaled Sabawi from the Union Construction & Investment Company (UCI, project operator), pays 14 cents/kWh and 1,30$ for one liter of fuel oil, which represents “one of the highest prices in MENA region (Middle East and North Africa).” MED-ENEC was based on the concept of market expansion, by creating “a reproducible project that would serve as model for geothermal heating and air conditioning in Palestine.”

The work achieved by the project team is highly appreciated by Mr. Sabawi, who considers that the team “made a great job by bringing together private and public actors”, and showed “professionalism and determination to turn Palestine into a place for sustainable energy efficiency and development.”

The most efficient and ecological
High prices and high levels of dependence… The West Bank suffers also from an increasing demand for energy, as the population growth rate is reaching 3% per year. But, in a critical geopolitical context, the energy production is more convenient on the local level, especially that 60% of this energy is dedicated to heating and air conditioning.

Geothermal source appeared thus to be particularly interesting. According to Mr. Sabawi, “this technique is the best if we want to reduce the energy costs of the heating and cooling of a building”. This does not go against photovoltaic energy, as this one is essentially used for water heating. Both forms of green energy are thus not rivals but complementary technologies.

Huge momentum
Based on many methods of energetic optimization (waterproof, insulation), the geothermal energy allowed 25% of energy economy with 60% of operating budget reduction. Only 6 years are necessary for investment pay-offs. Khaled Sabawi is delighted with the “success of the project that created huge momentum and helped develop a new enterprise, MENA Geothermal, dedicated to the development of geothermal technologies in the Middle East and North Africa.”

The project outcome was visible for instance with the geothermal supplies offered to UCI headquarters by MENA Geothermal, as well as to other 4 sites in Ramallah. The enterprise has also signed a grant agreement with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency on geothermal supplies for a new substantial residential complex (34 buildings, 522 apartments, 60,000 m2 ground area) in the suburb of Ramallah.

See the website: MED-ENEC