Project Overview

The Solar for Sustainable Education (Phase 3) project addresses the critical energy crisis in Lebanon, which has left public educational facilities struggling to provide basic services. Due to the collapse of the national grid and the prohibitive cost of diesel generators, many schools face operational shutdowns. This phase focuses on the "solarization" of public schools, installing photovoltaic (PV) systems to ensure a reliable, affordable, and sustainable power supply. By reducing energy costs, the project allows schools to redirect scarce financial resources toward core educational needs and student support.

Project Objective

• Provide reliable and continuous electricity to public schools to ensure business continuity.
• Decrease the financial burden on the Ministry of Education & Higher Education by reducing reliance on expensive diesel generators and the national grid.
• Reduce the carbon footprint of the education sector by transitioning to clean, renewable energy.
• Ensure that lighting, heating, and digital tools (computers/internet) are available to students without interruption.
• Use solar installations as a "live" educational tool to promote renewable energy awareness among students and staff.
   

Achievements & Key Figures

• Completed energy audits and structural assessments for 12 targeted public Technical and Vocational Education schools (2025).
• Prioritized 12 Technical and Vocational Education schools for solarization based on technical readiness and coordination with Ministry of Education & Higher Education (2025).
• Designed tailored photovoltaic (PV) interventions for the selected schools, based on audit and structural assessment findings (2025).
• Launched procurement and installation processes for solar photovoltaic systems in targeted schools (2026).
   

GESI Component (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion)

The project is designated with a GEN2 gender marker. By ensuring that schools remain open and functional, the project disproportionately benefits female students and teachers, who are often the most impacted by school closures and lack of safe, well-lit environments. The project also promotes gender equality by ensuring that female staff and students are included in the technical training sessions on how to monitor and maintain the solar systems, challenging traditional gender roles in the energy sector.