Under the patronage of H.E. Mr. Joseph Saddi, Minister of Energy and Water, and within the framework of the TESSA Project – Promoting Energy Transition and Green Transformation in Lebanon, funded by Italy, ICU – Istituto per la Cooperazione Universitaria and ALMEE co-organized the roundtable “Advancing Energy Communities in Lebanon: Technical Pathways for Grid Integration, Synchronization & Smart Energy Systems.” The event took place on September 25, 2025, during the REDEC 2025 Conference at Notre Dame University, Louaize (NDU), gathering experts, policymakers, and energy professionals committed to accelerating Lebanon’s transition toward a more decentralized, resilient, and sustainable energy system.
Energy Communities at the Core of the Transition
The roundtable offered a platform to explore the strategic role that energy communities can play in reshaping Lebanon’s power system. In a context still heavily reliant on private diesel generators and burdened by systemic grid failures, integrating community-based renewable energy systems emerges as a viable and urgent alternative.
Participants emphasized the importance of updating the current legal framework, particularly Law 462, to formally recognize energy communities, define their rights and operational parameters, and allow them to operate autonomously during national grid outages. Technical guidelines and regulatory clarity were identified as critical enablers for this transition.
Two Models for the Lebanese Context
The discussion introduced two complementary models tailored to Lebanon’s current energy landscape:
- Independent Micro-Grids: Privately developed and managed, these systems operate autonomously and can eventually interconnect with the national grid as infrastructure improves.
- Feeder-Islands connected to EDL: communities investing in photovoltaic plants and storage systems along the existing EDL feeders, to ensure power supply even in the absence of the national grid. This approach offers a practical and scalable solution to current energy shortages.
Both models aim to promote greater energy autonomy and lay the foundations for future dynamic grid integration.
Beyond diesel: a necessary and sustainable transition
A key theme of the roundtable was the gradual phasing out of private diesel generators, still the main source of backup energy in Lebanon today. Experts highlighted the need to adopt more sustainable and efficient alternatives, such as photovoltaic systems, battery storage, and hybrid solutions with natural gas.
The transition is also social: the discussion emphasized the potential to retrain generator technicians for new roles within community energy services, such as plant maintenance.
Towards an integrated and sustainable energy system
Although energy communities alone cannot yet guarantee a continuous 24/7 electricity supply, participants agreed that they represent a fundamental element to strengthen the resilience of the national energy system. The roundtable concluded with a roadmap for a progressive transition, structured around:
- an updated and enabling regulatory framework;
- training and reskilling programs for sector operators;
- technical guidelines for safe and efficient grid connection;
- results-based financing models to attract private capital and scale up community initiatives.
A significant step forward
The event reaffirmed the commitment to support Lebanon’s energy transition through policy dialogue, development, and knowledge sharing among institutions, civil society, and technical experts.
Energy communities, supported by innovative regulations and appropriate technologies, are emerging as a concrete step toward a greener, fairer, and more inclusive energy future for Lebanon.
