The Arava Power Company formed in 2006, is an Israeli company that deals in solar power development. Founded by a group from Kibbutz Ketura, and owned 60% by Yossef Abramovitch and a group of Jewish American investors and 40% by Kibbutz Ketura, APC seeks to supply 10% of Israel’s electricity needs through alliances with Kibbutzim and other land owners, especially in the south of the country. In February 2009, IEC approved the connection of an 80 MW photovoltaic power plant to the national grid that belongs to the Arava Power company. The power plant will be built on an area covering 1,500 dunam (375 acres) on Kibbutz Ketura at an investment of $400 million. IEC’s plans will enable the new Ketura power plant to become part of the national grid within four years after the approval and construction of 161-kilowatt high-tension line in the Arava. Arava Power has so far signed exclusive agreements with 15 kibbutzim in the Arava and the Negev for solar photovoltaic fields totalling 500-megawatt. The company has already received a license from the PUA for the construction of a 5 megawatt substation on Kibbutz Ketura at an investment of between NIS 100 million to NIS 120 million. In May 2009, the national planning and building council approved the construction of a 40 MWs solar power station on 600 dunam and ordered the council to start preparing a national outline plan for the station. The station will be constructed adjacent to an existing 161 KV line. The station will be a joint venture between Kibbutz Ketura and Arava Power. The Southern Negev and the Arava are one of the regions in the world where the sun’s rays are the strongest and thus ideal for solar power. In August 2009 Yossef Abramovitch sold 40% of Arava Power to Siemens for $15 million.

In May 2010, The PUA granted a provisional license to set up the first mid range solar plant. the license was granted to Ketura Sun and subsidiary of Arava Power.