The submitters, members of the joint list, write in the explanation that increasing the use of green energy contributes to the independence of countries, reduces their dependence on imported fuel, and this in addition to contributing to air quality
A bill to integrate renewable energy sources into the electricity production system was placed on the Knesset table last week. In the explanation, the proponents specify that: "Most developed countries encourage the use of renewable energy as a substitute for building new power plants based on fuel, gas or coal. "…
The proposal was submitted by Knesset members Dov Hanin, Aida Toma Suleiman, Abdullah Abu Maruf, Yosef Jabarin and Ayman Odeh. In their proposal, they point out the advantages of using renewable energy: "Increasing its use contributes to the independence of countries, reduces their dependence on imported fuel, reduces dependence on the supply chain of fuel and fluctuations in its price, reduces the deficit in the balance of payments and is a lever for the development of local employment." This is in addition to contributing to air quality and reducing pollutant emissions.
Next, Israel's comparative advantage is emphasized, which "leads the world in the utilization of solar energy for water heating and in research and development in many areas of renewable energy, and at the same time in the field of electricity production from renewable energy it lags far behind developed countries. This is mainly due to the lack of legislation that encourages and obligates the production of electricity from renewable energy."
The bill aims to advance the issue in several parameters through a mandatory infrastructure and economic incentives:
- Setting clear goals for the scope of implementation
- Recognition of the fact that an economic incentive must be provided for the production of energy from renewable sources.
- A control and enforcement mechanism that will allow maximum flexibility in achieving the goals
- Net counter promotion.
According to the proponents: "This bill aims to institutionalize the issue of small producers of energy from renewable sources, by stating that a consumer who is also a producer of electricity from a renewable source will be able to offset against the transmission provider the surpluses that he feeds into the electricity grid on a kilowatt basis. The cumulative value of a large number of systems for producing electricity from renewable sources at the consumer level is of great importance for reducing transmission losses, reducing demand during peak hours, and strengthening awareness of the benefits of these technologies. Creating a simple and defined mechanism for connecting to the national electricity grid and determining the offset principle will greatly facilitate the introduction of these systems. "
Alon Tamri, joint CEO of Solarpower, a manufacturer of solar systems: "We congratulate the initiators of the bill for their very consideration of the issue of implementing renewable energy. The government for generations set goals and policies, but consistently did not set enforcement mechanisms and never met the goals it itself dictated. The alternative energy market, mainly in the net meter layout, allows the integration of many clean energy production systems into the electricity grid without imposing additional costs on the economy. Continuity mechanisms and "green routes" must be created in order to lower barriers and make sure that the country adopts the goals used in the Western world for the implementation of alternative energy."
According to Tamri, today dozens of net meter systems are implemented which on average save the consumer and the energy economy about half a million NIS per year per system. Applying the law as proposed will ensure the continuity of the market and the government's commitment to reducing pollutant emissions.
