Israel Launches Largest Solar Energy Project—in the Valley of Megiddo!

Israel aims to transform two conflicting interests—solar power and agriculture—into a win-win situation: more green energy for the nation and a good balance of shade and light for the crops that share the field. On Thursday, Israel’s Environmental Protection Ministry (EPM) announced the new project in the Jezreel Valley in northern Israel—Ta’anakh. Ta’anakh refers to the Hebrew Bible. It is an acronym for the Torah, the prophets and the writings.

The Jezreel Valley (also known as the Valley of Megiddo—sound a little familiar? As in… Armageddon) is a fertile area where Israelis grow wheat, watermelon, cotton, chickpeas and more.

The Ta’anakh project is a collaborative effort between the Moshavim (agricultural) Movement, the EPM, Israeli solar energy company Teralight and a French solar software company, Sun’Agri. Teralight’s panels, along with Sun’Agri’s management software, hope to strike the right balance of shade and sunlight for the plants that will be growing beneath the field of panels.

Despite being a sun-rich country, only about 10 percent of Israel’s energy is derived from solar, according to the EPM. According to Israel’s “Energy Roadmap,” the country has set a 30 percent renewable energy target by 2030. When Ta’anakh becomes fully operational in 2024, it is expected to produce 250 megawatts of power—about 5.2% of Israel’s green energy.

“The Ta’anakh project advances Israel a significant step towards increasing the use of electricity produced from clean solar energy, produced by Blue and White. [Israel],” said Rani Lifshitz, Teralight CEO. “The practical meaning of 250 megawatts in the Ta’anakh project, on its two parts, is the supply of electricity to about 60 thousand homes in Israel during the first half of 2024.”