• Energy Research

Tulkarm is a Palestinian city with a rapidly growing population; thus, energy consumption sometimes becomes an issue. This study presents the reality of energy consumption, climate, and weather in Palestine and the reasons that make Tulkarm a large area of energy resources. Furthermore, several solutions to overcome the issue on energy consumption are discussed. The first solution, i.e. scheduling the delivery of energy to neighbourhoods on the basis of relevance, has already been adopted. The second solution is the use of diesel generators for a period in several locations across the town. The last and most effective solution is for households to use renewable energy. A short questionnaire was administered to evaluate the awareness of households about using electricity in their daily life. Results from this questionnaire reveal that the awareness of households who use electricity is the main solution to overcome the problem of repetitive power interruptions.

ABSTRACTThe growing demand for energy in developing societies, coupled with dwindling conventional resources, necessitates the adoption of renewable energy (RE) sources. A comprehensive understanding of these sources and their optimal utilization is crucial. The awareness of the users plays a very important role in the effective utilization of different energy sources. Hence, this study examines the level of RE awareness in Palestine, identifying factors influencing public perception and exploring potential strategies for promoting RE adoption. This awareness depends on different factors related to the users' education level, community type, and type of building. Different factors that affect the willingness and attitude to gain knowledge about RE are presented. In addition, various practices highlighting the increasing level of awareness regarding the adoption of RE sources are investigated. In addition, the status of RE education and its potential impact on engineers have also been discussed. Various individual and institutional efforts are highlighted in the study as strategies to bridge the gap and overcome obstacles to adopting RE sources. Suggestions for better use of these resources have been highlighted. Thereafter, recommendations for effective RE implementation in Palestine are analyzed and conclusions are drawn. The main challenges in integrating RE into Palestine's existing energy grid and system include infrastructure limitations, resources and financial constraints, and political issues. Still, there are possibilities in the form of international collaboration and investment. A flexible and modular RE grid could also address some of these challenges by integrating small‐scale systems that can be scaled up as needed.

AbstractPalestine has considerable potential for bioenergy production, which can contribute to the independence of the nation's energy sector. However, few projects have been implemented for the production and utilization of bioenergy. In this study, the potential effects of using bioenergy from various sources, such as municipal solid waste, wastewater treatment plants, and animal farms are studied. Certain studies and successful projects in Palestine are evaluated. Different technologies that could be used effectively are introduced. The challenges facing the adoption of bioenergy are discussed. The effect of energy generation is studied, and an economic analysis is performed. Results show that if bioenergy is adopted in the cities of Palestine, then approximately 19% of the total energy demand can be covered. Based on successful, established projects, Palestine has promising potential to generate low‐cost energy from bioresources. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

AbstractThe study focuses on the transition from conventional energy sources to sustainable renewable energy (RE) in Palestine, particularly in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The research aims to understand the relationship between key factors and residents’ willingness to invest in the RE sector, with a specific focus on the impact of education. Using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, the study analyzes data from 400 residents through a questionnaire and employs ordinary least-squares regression analysis with Eviews 12. The key findings indicate that residents’ inclination to invest in RE is significantly influenced by factors such as resource availability, knowledge level and power outages. Moreover, the study suggests that educated residents are more likely to invest in RE when factors such as knowledge, effort expectation, enabling conditions and resource availability are relatively high. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of policymakers’ allocating sufficient funds to research and development to promote technological innovation in RE sources, thereby enhancing the population’s energy efficiency.

Municipal solid waste management (SWM) is one of the most useful applications of renewable energy, supporting the market for renewable energy and assisting in environmental protection by reducing emissions. Sustainability is one of the key issues with solid waste management systems in developing countries, including Palestine. Waste-to-energy (WTE) technology is one of the greatest strategies for effectively managing solid waste. This study focuses mostly on waste management in Palestine’s Tulkarm area. We conducted an evaluation of the potential of energy recovery from municipal solid waste through a number of approaches, such as incineration, gasification, anaerobic digestion, and landfilling. Additionally, the implications on the environment, human health, and economics were investigated. The results showed that anaerobic digestion recovered around 5156.15 kWh per day; whereas, incineration and gasification recovered about 40,986.60 and 14,663.88 kWh per day, respectively. The least recovered energy amount was roughly 3563.87 kWh per day, which was generated by landfilling technology. Additionally, the environmental analysis showed that anaerobic digestion could save around 48,362 tons of CO2 annually; meanwhile, incineration and gasification could save about 384,424 and 137,538 tons of CO2, respectively. The lowest quantity of emissions could be saved by landfilling, with about 33,427 tons saved yearly. The energy cost savings associated with each technology were also estimated. The results of the energy savings estimation showed that incineration had the highest saving of USD 4918.12; gasification and anaerobic digestion saved USD 1759.67 and USD 618.74, respectively. Whereas, landfilling had the lowest saving of about USD 427.66. A careful analysis of all aspects related to each technology, in comparison to the available waste treatment techniques, was carried out to propose a solution to cover the energy deficit in Tulkarm as a primary goal. Anaerobic digestion was found to be more environmentally advantageous and economically feasible and thus can be recommended to decision-makers and investors.

AbstractMunicipal solid waste (MSW) is one of the most well‐known biomass resources that can be utilized to produce renewable energy. Numerous countries are plagued by the proliferation of waste, particularly organic waste that can be utilized for energy recovery. Palestine suffers from inefficient solid waste management, and only recently have a few projects focused on bioenergy production been implemented. Throughout the years, the city of Tulkarm experiences power outages which cause a challenge to the Palestine Technical University‐Kadoorie campus in Tulkarm. Thus, the possibility of energy recovery from the organic portion in Palestine Technical University‐Kadoorie was evaluated. The analysis of an economic impact included discussions of a number of economic aspects, including Levelized cost of energy, internal rate of return, present worth, annual worth, and payback period. On the other hand, a carbon dioxide savings analysis and gas emission were evaluated. The outcomes of the energy optimization demonstrated that the suggested system could supply the institution with an average of roughly 7 MWh of electrical energy. According to the economic study, this project offers 0.25 million dollars in present value, 0.144 million dollars in annual value, a 13 percent internal rate of return, a payback period of 6 years, and a levelized cost of energy of 0.11 dollars for each kWh generated. Additionally, the environmental assessment revealed that this system might reduce CO2 emissions by around 8,343,778 tons. For effective waste management, energy recovery, and emission reduction, it is advised to implement anaerobic digestion technology.