The transition to renewable energy in Israel is no longer just an environmental goal, but is gradually becoming a central component of energy security and the economy's ability to deal with emergencies.
Dolev explained that although Israel benefits from local gas reserves, it is a resource that has a high alternative value in international markets, and therefore using it to generate electricity is not necessarily the optimal choice. He said that increasing production from renewable energy makes it possible to direct the gas for export and strengthen Israel's economic and geopolitical position.
In the security context, he emphasized the decentralized advantage of renewable energy facilities. "Fossil power plants are very large, and a hit to one plant can take a significant chunk out of production," he said. In contrast, solar and wind systems operate in a decentralized structure, so even if one facility is hit, the rest of the system continues to operate. He said that during the fighting, a company facility was even hit, but it was not completely shut down due to its modular structure.
Dolev linked the energy sector to the increase in demand for electricity worldwide, mainly due to the development of artificial intelligence and the establishment of data centers. He said, "In order to have independence in the data sector, you need independence in the energy sector," adding that renewable energy is the fastest and cheapest solution for increasing the supply of electricity, in a way that will allow new infrastructure to be built without burdening the grid.
Referring to the economy's goals, he noted that currently the rate of renewable energy in Israel is less than 20%, while the updated target for 2035 is about 35%. According to him, the gap does not stem solely from a lack of resources or technology, but mainly from operational and regulatory limitations that prevent full utilization of existing infrastructure.
Dolev explained that even without building new facilities, production can be increased in the short term through adjustments to the way the grid is managed. "It is possible to add a few more percent of solar production from existing facilities, without additional land and without subsidies," he said, emphasizing that some facilities currently operate below their full capacity due to grid connection and balancing limitations.
According to him, the main barriers are in the interface between the entrepreneurs and the regulatory bodies, including the Electricity Authority and the Energy Regulatory Commission. He noted that there are decisions that can be made relatively quickly, which will allow more green electricity to be fed into the grid in the immediate term, but in practice the decision-making and implementation processes take a long time. "There is available potential here that is not being realized, and the challenge is less technological and more managerial and regulatory."
On the international level, Dolev noted that Doral is active in the United States and is among the ten largest manufacturers in the field, and that the company is also expanding its activities in Europe, including in Poland, Denmark, Italy and several other countries.
He said that demand for renewable energy in Europe has increased, in part, due to the desire to reduce dependence on Russian gas, but the main challenge is grid stability. "When the wind blows and the sun shines, there is excess production, and when they disappear, there is a shortage, which is why storage systems are needed."
Dolev concluded that "the combination of renewable energy, storage and distributed generation is the key to a more stable electricity grid, one that is less dependent on fuels and centralized infrastructure and more resilient to emergency situations."
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