LAU: Harnessing Solar Energy in Lebanon with the support of USAID

LAU: Harnessing Solar Energy in Lebanon with the support of USAID

NNA - LAU’s School of Engineering in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Trade and Investment Facilitation (TIF) project is forging ahead with a project to establish a solar energy industry sector in the country.

In the absence of a dependable supply of electricity by the state and with the rising cost of fuel needed to power generators, Lebanese households and businesses are increasingly turning to solar energy. However, the solar panels on the market are sourced at a high cost, with no oversight on quality, safe installation, and maintenance.

To that end, Dr. Lina Karam, Dean of LAU’s School of Engineering, submitted a proposal earlier this year to the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Trade and Investment Facilitation (TIF) project to establish a pilot for the local manufacturing/assembly and quality testing of PV (solar) modules in Lebanon and providing the necessary training to engineers and technicians. Since then, the project has been advancing in the co-creation process.

Implementing the project will not only have a positive impact on the energy supply but will also help boost employment, uplift the economy, inform a curriculum that targets industry needs, and create clean renewable energy in the country that meets UN