Eyal Lichter
Research Expert Israel
Energy in Israel - statistics & facts
Until a few years ago, most of the primary energy in Israel was received from fossil fuels. Since 2009, significant use of natural gas has begun following the discovery of natural gas reserves west of Haifa in the country's north. 2021, Israel produced over 43 percent of its primary energy from natural gas. This energy source constituted the most common one in the country that year, followed by crude oil. In addition, natural gas can be used for electricity production, with a reduction of coal use, which is beneficial for the environment. In 2020, the private consumption expenditure on electricity in Israel amounted to roughly 3.43 billion U.S. dollars. Overall, it has increased since 2014.
The story behind natural gas in Israel
The natural gas discovery in Israel was accompanied by a controversial gas outline between the state and the companies that own the gas fields. According to the many opponents of the settlement, the settlement favors the gas companies too much at the expense of the public benefit from the significant disclosure. Although petitions were submitted to the Supreme Court and demonstrations took place, a particular outline was approved in 2016. In 2022, Israel consumed 11.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas, as indicated in the worldwide list of natural gas consumer countries. In 2021, the revenue of Newmed Energy, a prominent firm in the natural gas sector, reached nearly 972 million U.S. dollars. That was an increase compared to the previous year.High potential for solar energy production
Since Israel is a sunny country with a subtropical climate, the potential for producing solar energy is high. In 2021, the share of solar energy in the overall electricity mix stood at 11 percent, one of the highest in the world. A practical example of this is solar boilers in Israel. In the same year, the total primary energy supply from solar heating reached just over 7.33 terawatt-hours. It gradually increased since 2013. In 2020, more than 84 percent of households in Israel had a solar water heater at home, while the sub-districts of Ashqelon and Acco registered the highest percentage of households.
