Over the past 10 years, the energy sector has been totally disrupted. The world is now moving into an era of renewable and smart energy. In contrast, Lebanon’s energy model still relies on heavy fuel oil plants and diesel generators. The country imports 97% of its energy, all of which is fossil fuel.

The country’s current energy policy has become unsustainable, both economically and environmentally. Yet the current energy crisis offers Lebanon a unique opportunity to embrace a new energy model and to leapfrog into the Green Energy Revolution.

We must rapidly reconsider how we produce, deliver and consume energy and develop a new energy model that leverages Lebanon’s 300 sunny days a year, wind potential and water resources. While we aim to provide 24/24 electricity, we must also protect public health and the environment and develop an important local energy industry.

LFRE’s vision aims to capture these opportunities in order to build a brighter future, create new jobs, promote economic development and improve the value proposition to customers.

To do so, we must address our energy challenges in innovative ways in order to revolutionize our current energy production system and fully benefit from technological progress and the rapid cost reduction in renewable energy and storage.

Our Plan

By leveraging the country’s huge potential for solar, wind, hydro and pumped hydro storage, we can turn green energy into our primary source of power. Gas operated plants should therefore be built as a base load, only to be used when renewables are not unavailable.

Our plan rapidly ramps up the construction of wind and solar plants, upgrades our hydro production and builds new run-on-river hydro plants as per the government’s plan.

In contrast, the number of CCGT coastal plants will be reduced to three plants only, as recommended by McKinsey, to be located in Zahrani, Deir Aamar and Zouk. The plants in Jiyeh, Selaata and Hrayche will be replaced by new green energy capacity located inland.