Renewable Energy Generation through Solar Panels for Public Education, Health and Water Facilities in the Gaza Strip

Palestine

In August 2012, OFID approved a grant in support of a UNDP/PAPP project entitled 'Renewable Energy Generation through Solar Panels for Public Education, Health and Water Facilities in the Gaza Strip'. During the war on the Gaza Strip in the summer of this year, some of the installed systems were damaged as a result of bombardment during the hostilities.The purpose of the supplementary grant was to repair the damaged equipment and restore the system's full capacity. It is worth noting that the only power plant in Gaza has been damaged during this war, and alternative facilities have become all the more important. The project achieved the envisaged outputs, as maintenance works for the damaged installed PV systems were undertaken based on the results of the technical assessment. The procurement and instalment process was completed for the supply of the solar cells to replace the ones that were damaged in order to cover the lighting load within the targeted facilities. The works included supplying and installing the new PV cells in addition to the maintenance works for the damaged walls, roofing within these facilities. The new PV cells were erected on the roof areas after dismantling the damaged PV modules, the DC/AC inverters and the battery storage rooms that were destroyed as a result of direct or indirect bombardments. Upon completing the maintenance works, the maintained PV systems were connected to the main electrical distribution board with an option to use the national power grid in case of cloudy days or malfunction of the cells. This component was executed in close cooperation with the targeted institutions that were affected during the war. All PV systems are fully operational and handed over to the benefited institutions.