New Solar Energy Plant Construction Was Launched in Israel

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A large-scale solar project—Ketura Sun field—was launched in the Negev Desert in Israel by Arava Power Company, who recently partnered with Siemens. With billions of dollars to be invested, another 40 new projects are planned, hoping to boost the country's solar energy production and create jobs. Our correspondent covers the launching ceremony under the boiling sun.

Israel is a country bathed in sun, possessing some of the strongest desert heat in the world.

In the early 1970s, Israel became the first country to require that every rooftop install a solar power system to generate the energy needed to heat water.

But despite that, Israel has never had a big solar power plant.

Now, times are changing. The Arava Power company has finished construction of the country's first large solar facility—Ketura sun field—in the Negev Desert. It is producing five megawatts of power.

[David Rosenblatt, Vice Chairman, Arava Power]:
"The number of consumers that will benefit from that (new power plant) is anticipated to be 8,000, but the way that it works is that the field is directly connected to Israel's grid and the Israel electric company distributes the energy as needed."

The Siemens corporation recently invested $15 million dollars in Israeli Arava, buying 40% of the company.

[Ed Helfman, Chairman, Arava Power]:
"They have invested enough money to get 40%, they have checked Israel and searched for the leading company in the field."

Israel only needs around 22,000 megawatts of energy to power the entire country during peak hours.

Since finding natural gas, interest in solar energy has taken a slight decline.

But despite that, Arava Power is planning new solar projects.

[David Rosenblatt, Vice Chairman, Arava Power]:
"Doing a 5 megawatt is excellent when it is the first project but it is not sufficient. And so today we are here to announce, on behalf of the company, a very significant milestone, we have 40 projects ready-to-go in Israel, that'll be over 400 megawatts and do more than $1.5 billion investment."

The project is green and environmentally-friendly for more reasons than one.

[Ed Helfman, Chairman, Arava Power]:
"In 20 years you can return the land to its previous state and 99% of the materials we used will go to recycling."

Many ethnic Bedouins live in southern Israel, and with their unemployment rate exceeding 30%, many are hoping additional plant will turn into jobs.

[Faiz Abu Chiabane, Mayor of Rahat]:
"After all, if such a project is started, you need construction, structuring and developing the field from scratch. If our young people work in the construction of these fields, they would receive an income. The women can also work by cleaning the power cells."

With the project officially beginning, those involved believe it will be a lasting asset to the region.

Israel's minister of infrastructure, Dr. Uzi Landau, says this solar field is also a contribution to peace.

[Dr. Uzi Landau, Israeli Minister of Infrastructure]:
"With this renewable energy that was made in Israel, the world shall be strong, they will be able to stretch our hand with our neighbors around and we shall make peace closer."

Both Arava Power representatives and the audience of the ceremony are now looking to the sky, setting their hopes on harnessing the sun's power.

[Yossi Abramowitz, Vice Chairman, Arava Power]:
"From kibbuz Eilot up to kibbuz Yael, what do we want? Let solar shine! Because of global warming what do we want? Let solar shine!"

Reporter:Aviva Grunpeter Photographer:Anat Markram
NTD News, Negev Desert, Israel

Category:

News & Politics

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• solar
• energy
• plant
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• arava power
• yossi abramowitz
• minister
• ketura sun field

[mispistoleros]

@dhilrukshan, is that why the orthodox christians were obliged to write the govt in tel aviv, imploring them to do something about the zionists zealots spitting on them? another pointless load of saliva...

[dhilrukshan]

@mispistoleros All their doing is letting the anger implanted in them control them. Their parents; who also don't have first hand experience of what Palestinian Mandate was actually like. Many across this world have gone through this similar fate. However the next generation move forward and live in peace in other countries. The Palestinians Christians eventually caught on to this and ended the violence and moved on leaving only the Muslims to continue the pointless circle of bloodshed.

[dhilrukshan]

@mispistoleros Most of the old generation that were around during the time of the fighting in the civil war between the two nationalist factions are dead or senile. The reality is the next generations of Palestinian Muslims who are fighting don't have a clue of what Palestinian Mandate actually even looked like. They have never lived in the villages, played in the field or meadows and or by the streams that once existed. How the heck would they know about anything.

[mispistoleros]

@dhilrukshan,palestinians shouldn't fire rockets at israeli towns which sit on the ruins of palestinian villages?

[dhilrukshan]

@mispistoleros Palestinian militants should not have been launching rockets from near the U.N. compound otherwise it would not have been hit. As for the usage of white phosphorous by the Israeli Defence Force (I.D.F.); they were within the acceptable framework of international law. While its usage of such weaponry was unethical it was legal. Though the continuous firing of rockets at Israeli towns and cities by armed militants was what caused the major confrontation.

[abarzilai664]

@mispistoleros TROLL ALERT TROLL ALERT [siren blaring]

[Zalahblue]

@mispistoleros Gads, you really are so slow. that two years ago Also, You fail to mention that Hamas was attacking Israel again.

[Zalahblue]

Bravo for Israel!

[michalebeb]

GREAT INITIATIVE!