The dream of energy grid independence looks closer than ever.  Along with pilot programmes operated by the Eilat Municipality's and the Eilot Regional Council's joint Renewable Energy Administration that draw power from natural sources, last month (June 2008) an agreement of understanding for cooperation between the Eilat-Eilot Renewable Energy Administration and the Renewable Energy Development Commission of North Carolina, USA was signed.

"This cooperation is designed to examine opportunities to bring to the Negev, Arava, and Eilat region diverse opportunities for applied projects in the area of renewable energy, with consideration to the geographical uniqueness and the unique resources the two regions possess," stated Hanoch Bar-Nov, director of the joint Eilat-Eilot Administration, and added that the cooperation will constitute a lever to strengthen and increase the population as well as sustainable development in our region and in South Carolina alike. 

The areas selected for cooperation are:

Creating energy from agricultural waste; developing agricultural crops for production of biodiesel on marginal lands using salt water; application of solar air conditioning technology; cooperation between research institutes in areas of sustainable development; joint conferences and seminars.

The project's success, it should be noted, will be measured amongst other things by its ability to raise funds for these initiatives (public and private foundations, business financing entities), their success in commercialisation and their sale in other relevant places in the world, as well as the professional cooperation between the two jurisdictions (Eilat-Eilot and South Carolina).

(Photos from public domain)

Eilat-Eilot consumes around 160 megawatts of electricity during a peak hour.  Electricity is brought to the region from a distance of about 300 km., from the coal-powered power station in Ashkelon, while in our region solar radiation is one of the highest in the world and could be utilised for local, non-polluting production of electricity.  "Until now it has been cheap and convenient for the world to produce electricity from coal and oil, in spite of their being polluting, until it became evident that there is a price for pollution:  the ever-increasing global warming, poor air quality for residents, alongsidethe  dwindling of oil resources versus constantly growing consumption," points out Dorit Benet, director of the Regional Environmental Unit, and adds proudly that this area knew to recognise the opportunity and the Eilat-Eilot authorities are the only ones in Israel to employ an energy and energy conservation administration.

The goals set for advancing the project are to reach energetic independence in the region, i.e. production of all the energy required for the region throughout all hours of the day, alongside gradually diminishing the use of energy by adopting energy-saving methods and technologies.  Converting Eilat into a solar city.  Transforming renewable energy into a lever for regional development - creating new and varied jobs and bringing new population to the area that would arrive because of new occupational fields.  Expansion of academic fields in this field, teaching and research on the subject of renewable energy.  Inserting this issue into all educational and community systems.  Labelling of the region as the leader in this field.

At present there are three pilot projects:  a solar tower, a photovoltaic (type of solar panels) farm, and covering the roof of Bank Leumi are about to get underway.  Meanwhile every project possible is trying to be advanced with government offices, entrepreneurs, business owners, and academic ideas for development aimed at reaching the desired objective - energetic independence of Eilat and the Eilot Region.  "It is important to note that it's not just about the sun, but also utilising wind energy, pumped energy, energy from biomass, and the possibility to produce biodiesel as an alternative to petrol," Dorit Benet concludes, and she believes that the cooperation with South Carolina constitutes a very significant step on the route to energetic independence for the region.

Courtesy of Dana Zinati, Municipal Spokeswoman (translated by Mikhal Ben-Shaprut)