In Syria, solar energy to load your laptop or plant tomatoes

Throughout Syria, "since armed clashes have decreased and most of the country is more stable, solar energy production has increased," confirms the office for Syria of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

This source of energy "constitutes a viable alternative in the Syrian context", explains the agency, pointing to "the excellent solar radiation", at a time when "a large part of the electrical network is destroyed in an urban environment andrural".

A boost, in a country where "no less than 90% of Syrians do not have access to a stable and continuous electrical supply", according to an estimate cited by the UNDP.

In the areas of the regime too, individuals or even public institutions such as universities use solar panels.The private sector has also launched several projects in this area.

In a district of al-Dana, city of Idleb, photovoltaic panels align themselves as far as the eye can see.

"Sales increased by 300% between 2018 and 2021", confides to AFP Abdelhakim Abdelrahmane, in his shop where he sells photovoltaic panels imported from Turkey, Germany or China.

He attributes this increase to agricultural projects which require at least "100 panels, even sometimes 500".

- refrigerator and fan -

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In his small apartment with naked concrete walls, Zakariya Sinno lights his ceiling fan and activates a sound system, illustrating the capacity of his three panels.

"Each home has bought two or three panels, enough to cover domestic consumption for the refrigerator, washing machine, lighting," explains the forties.

A survey carried out by a group of researchers with 120 households in regions of northern Syria (Idleb and AZA) made it possible to determine that 8% of them used solar energy as the main source of electricity.

They are a third party to use panels in addition to another energy source, in particular to light up, operate a television, load laptops, according to this study published in 2020 by the review University Education and Conflict from the British UniversityUCL.

Hospitals also use this technology, in addition to generators.

Since 2017, the Syria Solar initiative, launched by the NGO UOSSM (Union of Rescue and Medical Care Organizations), has made it possible to install 480 solar panels on a first hospital, then 300 others on a second.She provided technical assistance to around forty care centers that followed the same path.

"With solar energy, you can cover 30 to 40% of the hospital's energy consumption," said AFP the founder of Syria Solar, Talal Kanaan.

In case of fuel failures, he says, the system may be enough to fuel the "sensitive departments of the hospital, namely intensive care, operating rooms and emergency services".