Renewable Energy Outlook Lebanon: Multi-stakeholder meeting

Lebanon, like other countries in the Arab region is faced with significant energy security challenges marked by a growing energy balance deficit, all while promoting enhanced energy governance and economic development. In line with this transition, Lebanon has decided to embark on an energy diversification action plan, based on promoting renewable energy development and energy efficiency. The National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) for 2016- 2020 defines the country’s target to implement RE projects equivalent to 12% of the projected total electricity and heating demand. In addition, Lebanon has recently extended these projections to allow the country to meet 30% of the total electricity and heat from renewables by 2030.

In this context, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in co-operation with the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC) has embarked on producing a Renewable Energy Outlook. The report combines two IRENA methodologies, the RRA and the REmap. The primary objective of this assignment is to serve as a preliminary analysis through a consultative process that will feed into the upcoming update of the NREAP 2021-2025. It will equally serve as a solid reference for stakeholders and presented to the international audience to enable renewable energy deployment in Lebanon.

As part of the consultative process, a Multi-stakeholder workshop was jointly organised by IRENA and the LCEC on March 5-6, 2019 in Beirut, Lebanon. The workshop gathered national stakeholders, IFIs, private sector, non-governmental organizations, universities, research institutions that are involved in the renewable energy sector of Lebanon to consolidate the findings drawn from research and the previous consultations on issues that are critical for the assignment. The outcomes of the workshop will complement the work of the core RRA/REmap team to feed into the final Renewable Energy Outlook for Lebanon.