Westerners may think of the Middle East as an oil-rich region, but that’s not true everywhere in the area. Persian Gulf nations, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Kuwait, boast seemingly limitless oil production, but the area bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea, where Lebanon is located, has relatively paltry reserves.

For that reason, Lebanon has to purchase most of its energy from neighbors. That’s a challenge for a financially strapped nation, where three years of worsening economic crisis have left roughly three-quarters of its people living in poverty, according to the United Nations. Both economic crisis and energy shortage were dramatically compounded on August 4, 2020, when 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate exploded in Beirut’s port, killing hundreds, displacing 300,000, and destroying key infrastructure. Together with a widely criticized government response to “the blast,” these factors have added up to multiple, massive blackouts in recent years.

Lebanon does have at least one energy source in great abundance, though: 300 days of sunshine in the average year. The question is whether the economically depressed nation can build the infrastructure to take advantage of solar and other renewable energy sources.

Living in Lebanon for the past five years, Samer el Khoury has experienced the effects of the country’s energy crisis firsthand. An environmental activist with a background in business and finance, El Khoury works primarily as a research and development consultant for environmental projects.

El Khoury believes solar and other renewable energies are a key part of Lebanon’s future—and sees everyday citizens taking the initiative when the government won’t.

You can watch the film trailer below and read on to learn more about El Khoury’s efforts.

SAP Insights: How did you get into environmental and energy activism?

Samer el Khoury: I’ve always had a passion for the environment, but originally my focus was on sustainable agriculture and the development of a resilient food system. This included research into techniques such as permaculture, crop rotation, cover crops, and composting and new agricultural technologies such as hydroponics and aquaponics.

My interest in renewable energy was sparked by my work in agriculture. As I saw the potential to apply the principles of sustainability to the energy sector, I became increasingly drawn towards environmental activism. I believe that, as with most problems, the solution to our energy problems lies in nature.

There is a growing trend in the U.S. of combining renewable energy sources with agricultural practices, such as solar panels installed on farmland, and I have seen this technique used in Lebanon as well. The dual benefit of reducing carbon emissions while providing clean energy to the local community has inspired my research into renewable energy sources.

Q: What makes Lebanon a good case study on the use of renewable energy?

El Khoury: Lebanon is in a unique position globally, not just because of its tragic and long-term energy crisis but also because of the abundance of renewable energy sources available to it. We can shift from the current fossil fuel industry into renewables, especially in a place like Lebanon, which due to its geography allows you to use all sorts of renewable energy—solar, tidal, biomass, hydroelectric.

Lebanon has a long coastline which has the potential for harvesting tidal energy. This involves placing turbines in the sea, which capture energy from the tide and convert it into electrical energy. Biomass energy is the energy produced from organic materials, such as wood, plant matter, and agricultural waste. In Lebanon, 60 to 65% of our general waste is organic. In addition, Lebanon has a number of rivers and streams that are potential sites for hydroelectric power generation.

While Lebanon as a whole has about 300 days of sun per year, there are places in valleys or near rivers that may not get as much sun but have access to other natural sources of energy.

Q: Which of these renewables are being used today?

El Khoury: Some people are now installing wind power turbines. But solar energy is the most abundant and widely used renewable energy source in Lebanon. Solar panels are being installed on rooftops, in solar farms, and even on the sides of buildings.

Q: Given the nation’s money challenges, where does the funding come from?

El Khoury: Solar panels are privately funded mostly by house owners, business owners, or whoever can afford it.

“Clientelism” [or patronage] plays a big role here between politicians and citizens, especially if elections are in sight. Unfortunately, in Lebanon politicians and elites control access to renewable energy sources by controlling the regulatory framework. They have consistently overpromised on energy availability, while instead focusing their efforts on systematically looting the funds entrusted to them.

By having influence over the laws and regulations that govern the energy sector, they are able to limit access to renewable energy sources and limit the amount of money that can be invested in renewable energy projects. Additionally, they can make it difficult for renewable energy projects to receive the necessary licenses and permits. They can use their political power to award contracts to companies that are close to them rather than to the most qualified companies. [Editor’s note: Corruption in Lebanon is well-documented.]

In 300 Days of Sun, you can see how ordinary people took it upon themselves to meet their own energy needs by installing solar panels without having to deal with corrupt government officials or owners of private generators.

Q: What started this surge in grassroots adoption?

El Khoury: Unfortunately, it took some drastic events to bring the community together. For instance, when the blast happened, people from the vicinity of the damaged area worked together in teams, helping each other, taking the rubble out and rebuilding the areas that were damaged, because the state didn’t do anything. Even today, if you go down in the areas that were damaged, you can see a lot of damaged buildings still that aren’t even being worked on, and the ones that are being worked on are mostly public institution buildings.

When the private generators decided that they would cut off electricity, some people—mostly the privileged ones who can afford their own solar panels—started buying solar panels and installing small solar grids. However, in certain regions individuals have collaborated to combine financial resources to establish a collective solar farm that provides electricity to a group of houses.

Q: What’s next for Lebanon? How much progress do you envision?

El Khoury: A study recently estimated that more than 40% of the people living in Lebanon are relying on renewable solar energy, which is incredible, because people have only just started installing solar panels in the last year or so. Imagine what could happen in the next two years through increased innovation.

A future powered by solar energy could be transformative for Lebanon. Green businesses could spring up, creating jobs and stimulating the economy. Solar energy could power farms and factories, as well as provide electricity to rural areas. [Reliable energy] could also lead to an increase in tourism, as people travel to Lebanon to experience its stunning natural beauty.

The outlook for renewable energy in Lebanon is incredibly encouraging.

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