Energy in Israel
Energy in Israel comes mostly from hydrocarbon fuels. The country's total primary energy demand is significantly higher than its total primary energy production, relying heavily on imports to meet its energy needs. Total primary energy consumption was 285.5 TWh (0.974 quad) in 2011, or 24.5 Mtoe (million tonne of oil equivalent).[1]
Electricity consumption in Israel was 45.59 TWh in 2010, while production was 53.55 TWh, with net exports of 3.78 TWh.[2] The installed generating capacity was about 12 GW in 2009, almost all from hydrocarbon fuel plants, mostly coal and gas fueled.[3] Renewable energy accounted for a minor share of electricity production, with a small photovoltaic installed capacity. However, there are a total of over 1.3 million solar water heaters installed as a result of mandatory solar water heating regulations.
Electricity
The Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) is the main producer of electricity in Israel. Its full production capacity is 11,900 megawatts.[4] In 2012, the energy consumption in Israel was 52.27 TWh, similar to Portugal and Romania,[5] and 6,858 kWh per capita, comparable to the Netherlands and Slovenia.[6]
Hydrocarbon fuels
Most electricity in Israel comes from hydrocarbon fuels from IEC power plants. Below is a list of IEC power plants that produce power from hydrocarbon fuels (as of 2007).
| Name | Location | Type of turbine | Type of fuel | Capacity (MW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orot Rabin | Hadera | Steam | Coal | 2,590 |
| Orot Rabin | Hadera | Gas (jet) | Diesel | 15 |
| Rutenberg Power Station | Ashkelon | Steam | Coal | 2,250 |
| Rutenberg Power Station | Ashkelon | Gas (jet) | Diesel | 40 |
| Eshkol Power Station | Ashdod | Steam | Natural gas | 1,062 |
| Eshkol Power Station | Ashdod | Gas (jet), combined cycle | Natural gas | 387 |
| Reading Power Station | Tel Aviv | Steam | Natural gas | 428 |
| Haifa Power Station | Haifa | Steam | Fuel oil | 426 |
| Haifa Power Station | Haifa | Gas (jet) | Diesel | 80 |
| Eilat Power Station | Eilat | Gas (jet and industrial) | Diesel | 99 |
| Eitan Power Station | Gas (jet) | Diesel | 40 | |
| Alon Tavor Power Station | Alon Tavor Industrial Zone | Gas (industrial), combined cycle | Diesel | 460 |
| Gezer Power Station | Ramla | Gas (industrial), combined cycle | Natural gas | 1,300 |
| Hartuv Power Station | Gas (jet) | Diesel | 40 | |
| Hagit Power Station | Elyakim | Gas, combined cycle | Natural gas | 1,100 |
| Kinarot Power Station | Gas (jet) | Diesel | 80 | |
| Atarot Power Station | Gas (industrial) | Diesel | 68 | |
| Tzafit Power Station | Kiryat Mal'akhi | Gas (industrial), combined cycle | Natural gas, Diesel | 468 |
| Caesarea Power Station | Gas (jet) | Diesel | 130 | |
| Ramat Hovav Power Station | Ramat Hovav | Gas (industrial), combined cycle | Diesel | 1,000 |
| Ra'anana Power Station | Ra'anana | Gas (jet) | Diesel | 11 |
Renewable energy
Renewable energy in Israel is produced in solar fields, such as Ketura Sun and from biogas (11 MW), hydroelectricity (6.6 MW) and wind power in the Golan Heights Wind Farm (6 MW).
Nuclear energy
As of 2013 Israel has no nuclear power plants. However, in January 2007, Israeli Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said his country should consider producing nuclear power for civilian purposes.[7]
As a result of the nuclear emergencies at Japan's Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on March 17, 2011, "I don't think we're going to pursue civil nuclear energy in the coming years."[8][9][10]
References
- ↑ "Israel". EIA - US Energy Information Administration. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
- ↑ "Israel". World Factbook. CIA - Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
- ↑ "Israel". Policy Database. REEEP. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
- ↑ Barkat, Amiram (July 18, 2012). "Electricity reserves dwindling precariously". Globes. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
- ↑ International Energy Agency (2012). "Key World Energy Statistics" (PDF). p. 52. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
- ↑ International Energy Agency (2012). "Key World Energy Statistics" (PDF). p. 53. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
- ↑ "Israel Should Develop Nuclear Energy". Agence France-Presse. 2007-01-23. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ↑ Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu: Japan situation has "caused me to reconsider" nuclear power Piers Morgan on CNN, published 2011-03-17, accessed 2011-03-17
- ↑ Israeli PM cancels plan to build nuclear plant, Xinhuanet, published 2011-03-18, accessed 2011-03-17
- ↑ Netanyahu: We'll reconsider nuclear power plans Ynetnews, published 2011-03-18, accessed 2011-03-17
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