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Bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea, solar radiation in the Syrian Arab Republic is abundant. The number of hours of sun a year varies from 2,820 to 3,270. In comparison, sunlight on overcast days varies between 38 and 45 per year. This makes the region well-suited for solar energy harnessing. Starting in 2021, regions under government control have been addressing a significant power shortage due to a scarcity of fuel and a sharp increase in diesel prices. As a result, the government has resorted to solar panels to ease the emergency, as renewable energy in Syria is "the magic solution" to the crisis.
The conflict in Syria has been ongoing for a decade, involving President Bashar al-Assad, as well as both domestic and foreign forces. The UN estimates that more than 306,000 civilians lost their lives during this 10-year period from 2011 to 2021. In 2008, the country produced 406,000 barrels of oil per day, generating $3.2 billion in oil sales in 2010. However, with the uprising and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) seizing the oil infrastructure, production collapsed to only 24,000 barrels daily. Furthermore, following the onset of the conflict, the country’s power generation capacity has decreased by roughly 75%.
The ceasefire has not improved living conditions for Syrians, as they are still dealing with runaway inflation. In fact, about 90% of the population lives below the poverty line. Many people have to push their cars on foot because they can’t afford fuel. Those who can afford it often spend hours waiting in long queues at the petrol station.
The Syrian Ministry of Electricity raised electricity prices significantly (100% to 800%) in November 2021 due to high production and support expenses. As a result, some regions in the country experienced frequent power cuts. In light of this, Bashar al-Assad amended Law No. 32 of 2010 on the Syrian electric sector, allowing the government to buy electricity from renewable energy schemes in the private sector. As companies generating electricity from solar energy have excess electric production, instead of storing the surplus in batteries – which is expensive for them – it is optimal for them to distribute the excess through the government''s electricity network.
Committed to transforming the electricity landscape and increasing the adoption of renewable energy in Syria, the government is aiming to have 10% of electricity generated from solar power by 2030.
The Syrian Ministry of Electricity is currently managing the construction of a 100kW solar power plant in the town of Sargaya, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023. The project is estimated to cost more than SYP 81 billion (equivalent to around GBP 125 billion) and to have an annual production of 150,000 panels. It aims to generate enough electricity to power approximately 100 houses – bringing reliable energy to the local residents.
On September 2, 2013, the Federal Republic of Germany, the United States of America and the United Arab Emirates – along with the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (SOC) – signed The Syria Recovery Trust Fund (SRTF). Over the following months, multiple European countries joined the SRTF which aims to finance projects in sectors such as health, water, electricity and food security, to name a few.
With an increased demand for health care services, there’s an urgent need for reliable access to electricity and clean water. Responding to this demand, the fund approved a new project in February 2023, titled “Provision of Solar Power and Clean Water to Healthcare Facilities in Ar-Raqqa and Deir-ez-Zor.” This initiative aims to provide a stable and eco-friendly source of solar energy to 14 health care facilities through the installation of solar panels on their premises. The total budget for this project is approximately SYP 242 million, which is roughly equivalent to GBP 372 million. The project is expected to benefit more than 58,000 residents living in the vicinity of these health care facilities for a duration of 12 months.
The recent installation of solar panels is bringing about positive changes in the Syrian Arab Republic. The use of renewable energy sources, such as solar power, is improving access to clean water and health care services for the residents. Additionally, it’s creating new employment opportunities and decreasing the country’s reliance on imported resources. These advantages spell hope for greater achievements with renewable energy in Syria.
– Abigail RochPhoto: Pixabay
“The Borgen Project is an incredible nonprofit organization that is addressing poverty and hunger and working towards ending them.”
Syria's prolonged conflict has collapsed its electricity infrastructure and deteriorated conventional energy sources, compelling a swift transition to renewable energy.
Sada is an online journal rooted in Carnegie''s Middle East Program that seeks to foster and enrich debate about key political, economic, and social issues in the Arab world and provides a venue for new and established voices to deliver reflective analysis on these issues.
The devastation that years of violent war have inflicted on all aspects of Syria''s political and financial landscape cannot be overstated, and the economic impacts of the crisis continue to weigh heavily on the Syrian population. Deteriorating public services have become a major source of hardship, particularly with the escalating electricity crisis, given the importance of electricity for both the country''s economy and the daily lives of its people. Since the outbreak of the war in 2011, domestic electricity supply has significantly declined due to the destruction of numerous power plants and infrastructure, as well as the government's inability to secure the fuel necessary to operate them.
Accelerated Transition to Renewable Energy
Advancing Transition Plans: Policies, Challenges, and Solutions
The Syrian Minister of Electricity unveiled an ambitious plan to introduce up to 2,500 megawatts of solar energy and 1,500 megawatts of wind power by 2030, alongside the installation of 1.2 million solar water heaters. However, Syria's complex economic conditions present a major obstacle to achieving these targets. Large-scale projects are scarce, mostly limited to industrial cities, and often remain unfinished. In contrast, smaller projects have proven more practical and successful, especially in agriculture and for powering water wells and communication towers, due to their lower costs and simpler technical demands. Solar energy for homes has also gained popularity, as financially capable families install rooftop solar systems to meet their daily energy needs.
Overall, the protracted crisis in Syria has indirectly accelerated the transition to renewable energy as a means of adapting to challenging conditions, compensating for energy shortages, and pursuing sustainability. Given the current circumstances, supporting small-scale projects and offering concessional financing programs appear to be the most effective ways to drive the renewable energy transition in Syria.
Jalal Al-Attar is an agricultural engineer specializing in agricultural scientific research, and a Business Manager within the Agriculture Department of the Syrian Atomic Energy Commission.
A humanitarian crisis in Lebanon deepens, and Syrian refugees face a perilous choice: remain in a war-torn environment or return to Syria where they risk encountering significant dangers and discrimination. There are significant challenges and risks to their search for safety in Syria.
Now is the moment to develop more sustainable security mechanisms in Palestine. The proven practice of unarmed civilian protection and accompaniment is a critical initiative toward such security.
Harvesting olive oil wasn''t always so difficult for Munzer Zidan. The farmer and retired teacher from Khirais Village in Syria owns 175 olive trees. Previously, he was able to produce 12 tanks of olive oil annually, which became his primary source of income. Last year, Munzer''s harvest was insufficient to fill a single tank of olive oil.
"The rain has dropped dramatically, especially over the last three years, and this has impacted our ability to irrigate our crops," he said in an interview.
Facing prolonged drought
And Munzer is not alone. His neighbours, also farmers, are experiencing similar challenges in the tiny village comprising 24 households. Residents say consequences of a changing climate, including the country''s multi-year drought and unpredictable weather patterns, have caused a drastic reduction in their agricultural productivity.
For farmers like Munzer, this means a loss of income, which is particularly challenging given that Syria is currently experiencing one of the worst economic crises since the start of the civil war in 2011. Families face food insecurity as they struggle to harvest crops on their land, which they previously relied on for sustenance.
"The rain has dropped dramatically, especially over the last three years, and this has impacted our ability to irrigate our crops," says Munzer.
One of Munzer’s neighbours, Suliman Zidan, a community leader and a farmer, said access to water has been his primary concern. Alongside other community members, Suliman was digging wells to increase water supply.
"We were digging because of the drought. We tried to dig until we reached [ground water] so we could irrigate our crops," Suliman explained.
Then, the devastating earthquake hit Syria in February and Khirais was badly affected.
"Our progress was destroyed in the earthquake, and we had to start all over again," he said.
According to Bakhtiyor Azizmamadov, Programmes Director at the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) in Syria, climate change has had several other catastrophic impacts.
The ongoing drought has led to unbearable heat waves. It has contributed to crop failure and livestock losses. And there have been large-scale displacement and migration of rural populations as farmers and herders have moved to urban areas in search of economic opportunities.
"There is continuous water scarcity. There are several key rivers which are experiencing reduced water flow, which is impacting livelihoods – particularly agricultural production," Azizmamadov said.
Rebuilding amidst unreliable energy access
About Syria solar energy market
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Syria solar energy market have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
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