The Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC) is the national energy agency for Lebanon, working within the Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) in areas related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, and green buildings through technical assistance, policy development, and national energy initiatives.MED-DESIRE. (2015). LCEC. Retrieved from: http://www.med-desire.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=129&Itemid=687&lang=enPierre El Khoury. (2013). Insights on the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Development in Lebanon. Retrieved from: http://www.institutdesfinances.gov.lb/english/pdf/Pierre%20Khoury-CHEDE%20MED%20Presentation-%20050613.pdf LCEC originated in 2005 as a joint project between MEW and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Lebanon. LCEC has been financially and administratively independent since 2011.Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation Project. (2013). About Us. Retrieved from: http://www.lcecp.org.lb/aboutus.php?i=1

History In 2002, MEW and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed an agreement to create a new project called "Cross-sectoral energy efficiency and removal of barriers to ESCO operation." The project was co-funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and MEW under the direct management of UNDP Lebanon. A main objective of this project was to create a national energy agency for Lebanon. The project's team started its operation in early 2005. Gradually, the project name changed to LCEC.

LCEC was consolidated as an independent technical national center in the Memorandum of Understanding that signed between MEW and UNDP on 18 June 2007. GEF and UNDP extended their support to the LCEC.

At the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Summit, Lebanon voluntarily pledged to increase its renewable energy shares to 12% by 2020.

In 2013, the financial and administrative support of GEF and UNDP to LCEC came to an end. During that same year, LCEC received its first financial support from MEW. The MEW support ensured the sustainability of the center for a minimum of 5 years. LCEC also receives support from the European Union through a contract signed with the Central Bank of Lebanon.

Policy Development National Energy Efficiency Action Plan LCEC developed the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan 20112015 for Lebanon (NEEAP) to achieve the national target of 12% renewable energy share by 2020. NEEAP summarizes all national objectives, programmes and policies in 14 initiatives in the energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors. The initiatives of the NEEAP are the following: Initiative 1: Towards Banning the Import of Incandescent Lamps to Lebanon Initiative 2: Adoption of the Energy Conservation Law and Institutionalization of the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC) as the National Agency for Lebanon Initiative 3: Promotion of Decentralization Power Generation by PV and Wind Applications in the Residential and Commercial Sectors Initiative 4: Solar Water Heaters for Buildings and Institutions Initiative 5: Design and implementation of a national strategy for efficient and economic public street Lighting in Lebanon Initiative 6: Electricity Generation from Wind Power Initiative 7: Electricity Generation from Solar Energy Initiative 8: Hydro Power for Electricity Generation Initiative 9: Geothermal energy in Lebanon, Waste to Energy, and Other Technologies Initiative 10: Building Code for Lebanon Initiative 11: Financing Mechanisms and Incentive Initiative 12: Awareness and Capacity Building Initiative 13: Paving the Way for Energy Audit and ESCO Business Initiative 14: Promotion of Energy Efficient EquipmentRegional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. (2011). the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) for Lebanon. Retrieved from: http://www.rcreee.org/content/national-energy-efficiency-action-plan-neeap-lebanon

NEEAP 20122020, NREAP and RES

LCEC is currently updating and developing the NEEAP 20152020 while preparing the Renewable Energy Strategy (RES) and the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) for Lebanon. The Lebanese NEEAP was prepared in conformance with the Arab EE guideline (based on the EU directive 2006/32/EC on energy end-use efficiency and energy service) and Lebanon was the first Arab country to officially adopt such plan.

Pilot projects

2006: 500 Solar Water Heaters

The Chinese government donated 500 solar water heaters to be installed in the liberated areas in South Lebanon. LCEC was assigned by MEW to support its installation both technically and financially. The workload consisted of handling all project logistics, hosting Chinese experts to conduct an intensive training workshop, and assisting in the selection of beneficiaries.Paving the Way for the Mediterranean Solar Plan. (2011). Benchmarking of existing practice against EU norms. Retrieved from: Additionally, $112,500 was raised to cater for the installation of the units.

As a result of the war in Lebanon, 200 solar units were destroyed. LCEC has followed up with the Chinese Embassy to provide Lebanon with similar donations due to its direct results on the beneficiaries.Solar Thermal World. (2009). Assessment of Energy and Financial Performance of a Solar Hot Water System in a Single Family Dwelling: Case Study from Marjeyoun- South Lebanon. Retrieved from: http://www.solarthermalworld.org/sites/gstec/files/LCEC%20SWH%20DWELLING.pdf

Project information Date of implementation: Q3 2006 Donation: 500 solar water heaters Type of donation: in-kind Application type: evacuated tube solar water heaters Beneficiaries: 417 residences and public health centers Areas covered: liberated areas in South Lebanon Role of LCEC: technical agency

Achievements Collection area: 1,270 sq. meters Annual energy production: 1,018 MWh Annual energy cost saving (consumer side): $71,000 Annual energy cost saving (EDL side): $326,000 Annual GHG emissions reduction: 848 tons

Implemented by Kypros Falcon Win Trading Ghaddar Industry Tfaily Solar Mihsen Reda Co.

2008: Solar Water Heaters for Not-for-profit Facilities

In 2008, the United Nations Development Program, through its Energy and Environment Programme, with the funding of the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), launched a pilot project to install solar water heaters at publicNGO facilities in selected damaged areas of Beirut, Bekaa and South Lebanon due to July 2006 war. Under the supervision of the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC), the project consisted of installing 93 individual (natural circulation) solar water heaters, and 11 collective (forced circulation) solar water heaters, covering a total of 1,040 square meters of collection area. The solar water heating units were executed by three qualified firms through an international bid, and divided into five lots.Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation Project. (2013).Pilot Projects. Retrieved from: http://www.lcecp.org.lb/pilotprojects.php?li=5&pproject=1

Project information Date of implementation: Q1 2008 Donation: 104 solar water heating systems (11 Collective and 93 Individual) Type of donation: cash Application type: individual and collective solar water heating systems Beneficiaries: 104 hospitals, orphanages, elderly centers, health care, Red Cross, and civil defense centers Areas covered: Bekaa, South, and Beirut Suburbs Role of LCEC: administrator

Achievements Collection area: 1,040 square meters Annual energy production: 1,017 MWh Annual energy cost saving (consumer side): $81,000 Annual energy cost saving (EDL side): $324,000 Annual GHG emissions reduction: 744 tons

Implemented by Aquatherma Engineering Kypros Solar DawtecUnited Nations Development Programme. (2007). Lebanon: Evaluation of the Energy and Environment Programme. Retrieved from: http://www.undp.org.lb/WhatWeDo/Docs/EEOutcome%20Evaluation.pdf

CFL Pilot Project in Niha, Bekaa

Based on a collaboration agreement signed between LCEC and Electricité de Zahlé (EDZ), EDZ installed around 1,048 Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) in the village of Niha in the Bekaa area, completely free-of-charge. The 1,048 CFLs were purchased by LCEC and the installation was offered free-of-charge by EDZ as an in-kind contribution.

The project aimed to reduce electricity consumption among participating households and promote energy-efficient lighting. The project also aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with inefficient lighting.Ministry of Environment. (2010). Energy Crisis. Retrieved from: http://test.moe.gov.lb/Documents/SOER%20Chap%209.pdf

Following a site survey done by EDZ, LCEC supplied around 1,048 CFL's of different sizes to EDZ with a total cost not exceeding $2,500.

Due to the importance of this pilot project, the event was covered by the media in every aspect. In fact, a press release was distributed to the main newspapers in town, namely Annahar, Assafir, Al Anwar, and Al Mustaqbal. In addition, the project was covered by two main television stations in Lebanon, namely LBCI and NTV.

Recently, LCEC in collaboration with EDZ has worked on developing a complete study report on the success of this project, a year after its completion.Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation. (2010). Pilot Projects. Retrieved from: http://www.lcecp.org.lb/pilotprojects.php?li=5&pproject=1

Chinese Government Grant Phase 2

After the success of the 500 solar water heaters donated by the People's Republic of China and subsequent to the Israeli's attacks in July 2006 leading to the destruction of 200 of units earlier that year, the LCEC and the Ministry of Energy & Water (MEW) have been closely coordinating with the Chinese government to proceed with a phase 2 grant that will include 600 solar water heaters of similar capacity and type of phase 1 (208 L tank capacity and 28 glass tubes).

Project information Date of Initiation: Q1 2010 Donation: 600 solar water heaters (200 to replace damaged of Phase 1 plus 400 new installations) Type of donation: in-kind Application type: evacuated tube solar water heaters Beneficiaries: 417 residences and public health centers Areas covered: residences and non-profit facilities Role of LCEC: technical agency

Projected achievements Collection area: 1,524 square meters Annual energy production: 1,221 MWh Annual energy cost saving (consumer side): $97,000 Annual energy cost saving (EDL side): $445,000 Annual GHG emissions reduction: 1,017 tons Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation. (2010). Planned Pilot Projects. Retrieved from: http://www.lcecp.org.lb/pilotprojects.php?li=5&pproject=1

Beirut River Solar Snake The "Beirut River Solar Snake" (BRSS) is the 1st pilot project in Lebanon to produce electricity from solar energy. It was launched by the Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) in 2013 and is under the supervision and management of LCEC. The project will be extended over a distance of 6.5 km on the top of the Beirut River and have 10 MW installed capacity to be the first grid connected solar farm that seeks to generate and supply EDL with clean energy. The project will also have a technical building. The implementation of the first phase has an installed capacity of 1 MW extending over an area of 16,000 m2.Association of Lebanese Industrialists. (2013). Phoenix Offer to Ali Members. Retrieved from: http://www.ali.org.lb/english/morearticles.asp?newsid=123 The cost of the 1st phase of the project is $3.1 Million (with a budget of $4 million) and is completely financed by MEW. The execution of the first phase started in July 2014 and is now completed.BRSS Lebanon. (2015). Beirut River Solar Snake (BRSS). Retrieved from: http://brsslebanon.com/

Public Street Lighting LCEC was engaged in the public street lighting project and managed the installation of 500 solar street lights at the end of December 2014 through a grant by the Chinese Government in the Dora, Jounieh, Cornet Chehwan and Batroun areas.