The "Sun for Everyone" initiative is a pioneering non-profit project, aimed at assisting Israeli citizens to make the passage to renewable energies, and advance the construction of solar roofs in residential buildings. The initiative is the result of a collaboration between KKL-JNF, The Israel Energy Forum, and a large philanthropic foundation.
On Wednesday, September 28, a historical contact for the contraction of the first solar energy system on a residential building in Be'er Sheva was signed, and another contract for the construction of an additional system was signed on Tuesday, October 11.
Three 15-kilowatt systems will be installed in Be'er Sheva (one for each building entrance). Leading the process is the building committee chair, Dr. Yuval Granot. The "Green House" company was chosen as the initiator by the building committee.
A 22.5 kilowatt system will be installed at the building in Karmiel. Leading the process in the building is Tzvika Rubinchik, who organized the move as part of a general renovation that the building went through. The I-Tzur company was chosen by representatives of the residents as the initiator. In both projects, the companies will perform the installation on their own expanse, operate it through the project's lifecycle (25 years) and will divide the profits with the building committee.
The "Sun for Everyone" accompanies building committees and residents all throughout the process, which includes checking the feasibility of installing a solar energy system on the roof, acceptance of consent from at least 66% of the residents, getting offers from solar energy companies and contractual connection with the company chosen by the building committee. The solar energy companies take upon themselves the initiative, funding and the bureaucracy involved in setting up the system. The initiative is aimed at overcoming market faults that exist in residential buildings, since achieving consent for the process among the residents can be a complex matter and getting funding for the project may block the setting of the system.
In addition to accompanying the building committees, the first buildings to install solar energy systems as part of the initiative will receive a 15,000 ILS grant, given by the "Good Energy Initiative" foundation, which provides greenhouse gas reduction grants.
The initiative started in June, and has already resulted in two greenlit projects. It is now hoped that the Israel Electric Company will be quick to issue the needed approvals and connect the systems once they are installed.
KKL-JNF Chief Scientist, Dr. Doron Markel: "The climate crisis which humanity faces means that in Israel, too, we need to start creating energy from renewable, non-polluting sources. In a country as small as Israel, we need to double our use of the ground, in order to achieve maxium renewable energy use in urban areas and preserve open areas by avoiding the setup of large electric networks. Building roofs consist of 80% of the roofs in Israel (according to a survey held by the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection in 2020), and therefore in order to increase the amounts of electricity produced from solar energy, every roof should be used, especially the roofs of residential buildings. I'm excited by the fact that the glass ceiling has been breached, and the first residential buildings have, as part of KKL-JNF and the Israel Energy Forum's project, have signed agreements with solar energy system installation companies.
Former MK Yael Cohen Paran, who is among the leaders of the initiative at the Israel Energy Forum: "the move to solar energy is critical for Israel, and residential building roofs are the biggest future source for such energy. This is a win-win-win situation for the country's citizens, the solar energy companies and the environment. Building residents can set up a solar energy system and make money of it, without paying a dime. The "Sun for Everyone" initiative of KKL-JNF and the Israel Energy Forum has brought a breakthrough in this important field."
Dr. Yuval Granot, who leads the process in Be'er Sheva. Photograph: Yael Paran