Syria's solar boom is redefining Middle East's energy model
2 hours ago
- #Middle East
- #Solar Energy
- #Renewable Power
- Damascus has become highly solarised due to a broken grid from civil war and cheap Chinese panels, with solar capacity growing rapidly from 249 MW in 2022 to 2,060 MW in 2025.
- Solar power in Syria is driven by individual adoption rather than government projects, providing basic electricity but struggling with heating and cooling demands despite high costs relative to income.
- Other crisis-hit countries like Lebanon, Yemen, and Pakistan have also turned to rooftop solar, while Libya and Iraq lag due to fuel subsidies that could be redirected to solarisation.
- Global cities with extensive rooftop solar, such as Honolulu and San Diego, benefit from sunny climates and incentives, with grids complementing solar output, whereas Syria lacks such grid support.
- For Gulf nations, large-scale solar plants are preferred due to lower costs, but distributed solar with batteries can reduce grid strain and improve resilience, especially in urban areas.
- Distributed solar is crucial in conflict zones, aiding rebuilding, saving fuel, reducing pollution, and empowering people, while also supporting remote sites and fostering local solar industries.