Israel could find itself without electricity at critical sites during a war
With the passage of natural gas, the lack of storage capacity, and the oversupply in the electricity sector in Israel, it can lead to disruptions within the country at the right time.
Israel could find itself in the dark in times of crisis, according to a recently published warning that the country could find itself without electricity in critical homes during wartime.
The study, led by Dr. Erez Cohen from the Department of Politics in the Middle East and politics at Ariel University, shows that the greatest risk in the environmental system, the lack of the last sector, and the excessive placement in the electricity sector of Israel.
Investigators say Israel’s overreach could lead to severe disruption under current conditions.
Cohen also assessed the resilience of Israel’s energy sector in times of security emergencies through data analysis and their use, combined with policy reviews from 2018-2024, using the recent Gaza War as a Case Study. “
The findings, he said, show that the country is not ready for several disruptions.
According to the study, published in a scientific journal Energy Resources, Part B: Economics, Planning, and PolicyIsrael’s Israeli sector suffers from four weaknesses.
Viewing an IDF tank in action. (Credit: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit)
What four weaknesses are destroying Israel’s energy sector?
1 This dependence, Cohen argued, makes the system especially vulnerable to attacks on symbols, terrorism, or cyberattacks.
2. Supply demand report
3. Lack of storage capacity
4. High coverage: The national grid is always very centralized, so the damage to a major power station or a single fuel platform can cause a total outage across the entire country.
Cohen describes the alarming situation where power, water, and hospital facilities can be left without power during an emergency. “In the war in Gaza, we saw how our dependence on natural gas made us vulnerable. Any malfunction or strike in the middle of nowhere could paralyze the entire economy in a critical moment,” it warned.
According to Cohen, solutions to this problem exist, but they require strong government action. He urged policy makers to move away from a private system that relies on fewer fuel platforms and a more flexible and flexible model.
“We need local microgrids that will allow critical areas, such as hospitals, water facilities, and remote communities, to continue to operate even if the national grid goes down,” he said.
Cohen reiterated that Israel can no longer afford to invest in Energy Storage: “This is not an environmental luxury; it is a national safety net. Without storage capacity it will not save us a moment of disaster.”
He emphasized that, along with good physical planning, Israel must establish an integrated defense and emergency defense network, and create an emergency communication unit that includes the establishment of defense, energy service, and cyber authority to manage the electricity sector in real time during crises.
“We tend to think of electronics as a consumer product,” but in reality, it’s a strategic weapon. And if we don’t think about the backup, that’s precisely when we need the light the most. “
