ISRAEL - Fifth Solar Plant in Negev
Israel is advancing plans to build a fifth solar energy plant at Ashalim in the Negev desert as the government set itself a goal to generate 30 percent of electricity from renewable energy by the end of the decade.
The tender comes after Israel’s fourth solar energy farm at Ashalim, a photovoltaic facility with a power capacity of 40 MW, started operating in July. Another two thermo-solar power fields at Ashalim generate 120 MW per year each and a photovoltaic one supplies 30 MW yearly. Together, the four stations in Ashalim—two thermo-solar power plants and two photovoltaic power plants—supply electricity totaling more than 300 MW yearly, which is less than 2 percent of the annual demand of the Israeli economy for electricity.
-www.timesofisrael.com, 14 September 2023
Arno's Commentary
While the solar energy production is significant, we note in the last sentence that the combined solar energy “is less than 2 percent of the annual demand of the Israeli economy for electricity.” With the virtual overabundance of Israel’s natural gas reserves, renewable energy takes a back seat.
Interestingly, the ten top countries in the world producing the largest percentage of renewable energy are located in Africa, according to timesofisrael.com.
1. DR Congo - 96.24%
2. Somalia - 95.03%
3. Central African Republic - 91.26%
4. Uganda - 90.22%
5. Gabon - 89.88%
6. Ethiopia - 88.92%
7. Liberia - 87,24%
8. Guinea-Bissau - 86.24%
9. Tanzania - 85.22%
10. Burundi - 84.77%
Important to emphasize is that these countries are not well-functioning; extreme poverty is the trademark. The Democratic Republic of Congo, with over 111 million in population, has a life expectancy of only 62.2 years. Its GDP per capita is $1,100, and religion is listed as 93% Christian.
Somalia’s 12 million population is virtually 100% Muslim. Life expectancy stands at 53.1 years, and per capita GDP is also $1,100.
Central African Republic: 550 million population, 89% Christian, life expectancy 55.9 years, and only $800 per capita GDP.
As for Israel, it has a population of 9+ million, with 75% Jewish, 18% Muslim, and 1.9% Christian. Life expectancy is 83.5 years, with a per capita GDP of $42,100 (2021).
If no drastic change happens, the stark difference between Israel and Africa will only increase in Israel’s favor. As far as Israel’s future is concerned, the prophet Isaiah proclaims: “And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:12).
Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight Call Ministries and editor-in-chief of the acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call and News From Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecy conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. His extensive travels have contributed to his keen insight into Bible prophecy, as he sees it from an international perspective.
