Lebanon iceland power generation and energy storage

Why are diesel generators used in Lebanon?

Diesel generators are used in many countries and for different applications. The main driver for their use, however, is the lack of energy access and unreliability of supply. As in the case of Lebanon, the lack of energy access follows from a chronic under-supply of electricity that exposes the public to long hours of power outages.

Why does Lebanon need a power grid?

This requirement is mainly to protect the grid’s infrastructure and for the safety of personnel who might be working during power cuts. The islanding effect is prominent in Lebanon, given the high frequency of power outages, which leads to an economic challenge due to wasted energy (in the absence of storage).

Why is solar power important in Lebanon?

Power generation in Lebanon has been one of the sectors most affected by armed conflicts, directly through external aggression by Israel and the civil war’s infighting, which resulted in substantial destruction of EDL’s generation, transmission and distribution assets. Distributed solar PV systems offer Lebanon serious benefits.

Why is there a shortage of electricity in Lebanon?

The electricity sector in Lebanon suffers from a chronic shortage of power supply which has been met by private diesel generators that have increased dramatically over the past two decades.

Does Lebanon rely on distributed power generation?

In Lebanon, there is already some reliance on distributed power generation due to the wide use of diesel generators that cover the deficit between supply and demand.

Are PV & storage systems cost competitive in Lebanon?

As discussed above, PV + storage systems are not yet cost competitive in Lebanon. The financial parameters reflecting the other two options, based on the case of a 500 KVA (400 kW) diesel generator, are listed in Table 21. Roughly speaking, 500 KVA generators provide electricity to about 300 customers.