David Rosenblatt of New Jersey, Ed Hofland of Kibbutz Ketura, and Yosef Abramowitz founded the Arava Power Company on Kibbutz Ketura in the Arava Valley in 2006. APC has declared that its mission is to supply Israel with 10% of its energy needs through clean, renewable solar energy. On June 5, 2011, APC inaugurated Israel’s first solar field, Ketura Sun, on Kibbutz Ketura. The Arava Power Company was founded with the Zionistic ideals of helping Israel by reducing carbon emissions, making use of a natural and readily available resource, and gaining energy independence.[1]
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Arava Power Company cites Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, as an inspiring figure for the vision of the company. It was Ben Gurion who first made the prediction that solar energy would be an invaluable resource for Israel. In 1956 Ben Gurion said: "The largest and most impressive source of energy in our world and the source of life for every plant and animal, yet a source so little used by mankind today is the sun... Solar energy will continue to flow toward us almost indefinitely." At the launch of APC’s first solar field, Ketura Sun, staff and guests wore T-shirts that with a drawing of Ben Gurion’s iconic profile. Ketura Sun features the Solar Canvas™, an innovative piece of art that covers the entire solar field, which was designed and developed for the Arava Power Company by artist Danny Lavie. To honor the vision and leadership of David Ben Gurion, Arava Power has chosen his image as the symbol for the first Israeli solar field.
Arava Power Company uses photovoltaic (PV) solar panels that are made by the China-based company Suntech. APC’s solar fields are only to be built on land already reserved for agricultural or industrial use.
Bank Hapoalim In December 2010 Bank Hapoalim signed an agreement with Arava Power to extend a loan of 80 million NIS to APC in order to fund the Ketura Sun project (valued at ~100 million NIS).[2]
Siemens In August 2008, Siemens Project Ventures invested $15 million in the Arava Power Company. In a press release published that month, Peter Löscher, President and CEO of Siemens AG said: “This investment is another consequential step in further strengthening our green and sustainable technologies”. Siemens now holds a 40% stake in the company. [3]
The Arava Power Company has signed multiple agreements with Bedouin families in the Negev desert to build solar fields on approximately 92 acres of land, with a production capability of up to 20 megawatts. APC has been lobbying the Israeli government to create separate solar caps for Bedouins.[4]
In January 2011, Musa Abu Karinat, an Israeli Bedouin who has signed an agreement with Arava Power, told Haaretz newspaper: “Our village has proper electricity infrastructure, so we don’t need the plant for electricity for the village. Our goal is to build a solar farm on private land owned by a particular family, and to sell the energy it will produce to the national energy grid.” [6]
Before 2006, Israel had very few government regulations and statutes regarding solar energy. This made it difficult to build solar fields in Israeli territory. Twenty-three individual government offices are involved in solar energy.[7] When Arava Power Company was founded, they “identified 25 key decisions that would have to be won in order to create a vibrant solar industry.” Of their success in working with governmental offices to move the solar industry forward, APC has said: “Arava Power has been the primary catalyst in the winning of all twenty-five key decisions, from the Prime Minister's Office to the local planning board.” [8]
Ensure the building of transmission lines from the south to the center of the country
On November 21, 2010, Minister of National Infrastructure, Uzi Landau, signed a Power Purchase Agreement with Ketura Sun Company (owned by Arava Power Company) worth an estimated 250 million NIS. The agreement is valid for twenty years and guarantees that the energy produced at Ketura Sun will be transferred to the Israel Electric Corporation’s power lines. It is the first PPA in Israel with a solar energy company.[10]
Arava Power Company is committed to corporate social responsibility. Within the Torah’s rules for Tzedakah (charitable giving) is the law of Pe'ah. Pe’ah requires that the four corners of any field be left untouched by harvesters and saved for the poor to glean.[11] Arava Power Company is giving Pe’ah a modern twist, dedicating the four corners of the Ketura Sun solar field to four different non-profit organizations that will benefit from the funds earned by each corner for the next 20 years.[12] The four organizations chosen by Arava Power are:
Arava Power’s commitment to the law of Pe’ah has been made permanent with the placement of a statue of Ruth created by Kibbutz Ketura artist, Gil Aruch, at the entrance to the field. The biblical story of Ruth is one of tolerance, social-religious acceptance and justice. The Royal Tribe of Judah accepts Ruth the Moabite, the convert who comes from a foreign culture and enemy land. It was Ruth who originated the custom of pe’ah.[16]
Shyne Rapper Shyne recently released a new song entitled “Solar Energy”. The rap was written with Arava Power Company’s president, Yosef Abramowitz, in honor of the inauguration of Ketura Sun, the first solar field in Israel. Shyne premiered the song on June 5, 2011, at the Ketura Sun launch.[17]
Mayumana Dance Troupe Arava Power partnered with Mayumana, an Israeli dance troupe, to create a promotional video for the Israel EcoCinema Festival. The video was used a second time as Arava Power Company’s video-invitation to the historic launch of Ketura Sun, the first solar field in Israel.[18] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRe8Z_qCYb0
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