Electricity from solar panels and wind turbines has revolutionized life in rural Palestinian herding communities: Machines, instead of hands, churn goat milk into butter, refrigerators store food that used to spoil and children no longer have to hurry to get their homework done before dark.
But the German-funded project, initiated by Israeli volunteers, is now in danger. Israeli authorities are threatening to demolish the installations in six of the 16 remote West Bank communities being illuminated by alternative energy, arguing the panels and turbines were installed without permits.
The German government has expressed concern and asked for clarifications _ a rare show of displeasure from Israel's staunchest defender in Europe.
The dispute is more than just a diplomatic row. It goes to the core of mounting international criticism of Israel's policies in the 62 percent of the West Bank that remain under full Israeli control two decades after Palestinians were granted self-rule in a patchwork of territorial islands in the rest of the land.
The division of jurisdictions was meant to be temporary, but has been frozen in place as repeated peace talks deadlocked. The Palestinians claim all the West Bank, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, for a state.
International monitors have warned that Israel is suppressing Palestinian development in the West Bank sector under its full control, known as "Area C," while giving preferential treatment to Israeli settlements. Most of the international community considers Israel's settlements in the West Bank illegal.
Israel's more than 300,000 settlers are already double the number of Palestinians in Area C, which would form the heart of any Palestinian state.
If Israel's policies are not stopped, "the establishment of a viable Palestinian state ... seems more remote than ever," European Union diplomats warned in an internal report last year.
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said the division of authorities was agreed to by the Palestinians in the interim deals of the mid-1990s, and that Israel is ready to move forward.
"We of course want to continue with the negotiations, to reach further agreements with the Palestinians, but they have not been willing to do so," he said.
The Palestinians have said they won't resume talks without a freeze in settlement building, which they argue grabs lands they want for a state.
More than 90 percent of the West Bank's Palestinians live in the self-rule areas run by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. The economist has won international praise for building institutions of a state like police and courts in the areas he governs. Fayyad has tried to branch out into Area C, but hit a wall of Israeli rejections.
Palestinian government spokesman Ghassan Khatib said the donors are increasingly aware of the problem, but that "unfortunately, there isn't yet action, such as holding Israel accountable."
Perhaps the most vulnerable Palestinians in Area C are the goat and sheep herding families scraping a living from barren hills of the West Bank. Israel does not recognize their tiny communities, saying the herders are in the area illegally. Residents say their roots go back generations.
The hamlet of al-Thala, a community of 80 in the southern West Bank, had no electricity until last August when the German aid group medico and Comet-ME, a group of pro-peace Israeli scientists, set up solar panels there as part of a campaign to provide 30 communities in the area with solar and wind power.
In al-Thala, 41-year-old Hakima Elayan used to spend four hours a day churning butter by hand. Now a machine does it for her, leaving her more time for her children and other household chores.
"It's as if we are living the city life," she said. "I can't live without it," she added as three of her young daughters watched a soap opera on TV. Her neighbors have also bought refrigerators, washers, TVs and butter churners.
But last month, Israel's Civil Administration _ a branch of the military dealing with Palestinian civilians _ issued "stop work" orders, a precursor to demolitions, targeting solar panels and wind turbines in al-Thala and five other communities.
The installations were set up illegally, without anyone having requested a permit, the Civil Administration said, adding that the cases will be reviewed by a committee.
Elad Orian, a physicist at Comet-ME, said the group didn't ask for permits, feeling it would have been futile because Israel considers the communities illegal. He believes demolition is still months away, and hopes political pressure by Germany, which gave more than 400,000 euros ($520,000), will save the projects.
Germany's foreign ministry has expressed concern and said it is closely monitoring the situation in Area C.
In a similar case, deputy Polish Foreign Minister Jerzy Pomianowski summoned Israel's ambassador to express concern over the demolition of a well in a community near al-Thala that had been rebuilt with Polish funds.
Israel said those refurbishing the wells also failed to ask for permits and ignored calls to attend a hearing.
2012年2月26日星期日
2011年5月25日星期三
No easy options to solve power crisis
When chief minister J Jayalalithaa promised on Tuesday that she will soon have good news on solutions to the ongoing power crisis in the state, many felt that the government may aggressively promote solar and biogas power. But experts caution that any new initiative should be implemented after considering all the consequences.
Solar, for instance, is a pricey option, they point out. The state's power deficit is around 3,000 MW. To bridge the deficit using solar alone may require an investment of around Rs 50,000 crore. Further, solar producers are paid Rs 18 per unit generated, as per central norms. This would be at least three times the price paid by consumers, and hence add to the government's subsidy burden, experts say. Typically every solar plant needs five acres of land for one MW. Mass solar plants may require large-scale land acquisition.
Proponents of solar power, however, point out that the plants require no fuel, generate no emissions and are clean. There is a global thrust toward solar power, and the government can easily get monetary help from the centre through the National Solar Mission and international funding agencies. More importantly for Tamil Nadu, the solar plants can be up and running relatively quickly. "It is just a question of assembling the ready-made solar panels, which can be accomplished in less than six months," said P Boniface of energy consultancy Ulaginoli Energy Solutions.
Large-scale solar plants are a novelty in the country, and therefore the state will be treading on new territory. Sources close to the government say Tamil Nadu was a pioneer in putting up new wind power plants, which shows that it has the engineering resources to embark on a solar drive.
Critics warn that the lessons from wind power development should be applied in solar, too. Solar power, like wind, is intermittent. The power is available typically for eight hours, and a sudden cloud cover can damp down generation. The ongoing power cuts are largely because wind generation has reduced to a few hundred MW, despite the state boasting of a total capacity of 5,000 MW. "The deficit of 3,000 MW is largely due to the fact that the state had not planned for backup power sources when wind is not blowing and not enough wind power is being generated," a central agency source said.
While solar could be an attractive option to quickly install power-generating sources, the state may be helped by the setting up of a power plant in Simhadri, Karnataka in July. This plant could provide 500 MW to Tamil Nadu.
Help can also come from Cauvery water, TNEB sources say. "If enough water can be supplied from Mettur for irrigation in the summer, then many agricultural pumpsets that consume power can stop working, and help to reduce the gap between demand and supply," they say. The officials are also hoping that wind generation will increase from the current levels of less than 300 MW.
Power purchase from other states is another option available through central power exchanges and short-term contracts with other generators. The power can be obtained at around Rs 4 per unit, a central official says. But there is a limitation on the power that can be transferred through the grid to the state, he says. "A new transmission line is proposed, but will take at least another two years to be installed," he says
Solar, for instance, is a pricey option, they point out. The state's power deficit is around 3,000 MW. To bridge the deficit using solar alone may require an investment of around Rs 50,000 crore. Further, solar producers are paid Rs 18 per unit generated, as per central norms. This would be at least three times the price paid by consumers, and hence add to the government's subsidy burden, experts say. Typically every solar plant needs five acres of land for one MW. Mass solar plants may require large-scale land acquisition.
Proponents of solar power, however, point out that the plants require no fuel, generate no emissions and are clean. There is a global thrust toward solar power, and the government can easily get monetary help from the centre through the National Solar Mission and international funding agencies. More importantly for Tamil Nadu, the solar plants can be up and running relatively quickly. "It is just a question of assembling the ready-made solar panels, which can be accomplished in less than six months," said P Boniface of energy consultancy Ulaginoli Energy Solutions.
Large-scale solar plants are a novelty in the country, and therefore the state will be treading on new territory. Sources close to the government say Tamil Nadu was a pioneer in putting up new wind power plants, which shows that it has the engineering resources to embark on a solar drive.
Critics warn that the lessons from wind power development should be applied in solar, too. Solar power, like wind, is intermittent. The power is available typically for eight hours, and a sudden cloud cover can damp down generation. The ongoing power cuts are largely because wind generation has reduced to a few hundred MW, despite the state boasting of a total capacity of 5,000 MW. "The deficit of 3,000 MW is largely due to the fact that the state had not planned for backup power sources when wind is not blowing and not enough wind power is being generated," a central agency source said.
While solar could be an attractive option to quickly install power-generating sources, the state may be helped by the setting up of a power plant in Simhadri, Karnataka in July. This plant could provide 500 MW to Tamil Nadu.
Help can also come from Cauvery water, TNEB sources say. "If enough water can be supplied from Mettur for irrigation in the summer, then many agricultural pumpsets that consume power can stop working, and help to reduce the gap between demand and supply," they say. The officials are also hoping that wind generation will increase from the current levels of less than 300 MW.
Power purchase from other states is another option available through central power exchanges and short-term contracts with other generators. The power can be obtained at around Rs 4 per unit, a central official says. But there is a limitation on the power that can be transferred through the grid to the state, he says. "A new transmission line is proposed, but will take at least another two years to be installed," he says
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