MNI Minister Uzi Landau has set the goal for renewable energy (renewable energy masterplan) at 2,760 MW by 2020, less than the former goal of 4,000 MW. The minister stated that this would still represent 10% of the electricity generated at that date since the government was promoting a strong energy conservation program to reduce consumption by 20%. Solar systems are to represent 1,750 MW. The energy fuel mix for renewable is set to be in 2020 from 5 large solar power plants of each larger than 5 MW totaling 1,200 MW (35% of the total renewable) from both photovoltaic and thermo-solar technology. Medium size PV plants of between 50 KW to 5 MW will be limited to a maximum scope of 350 MW (300 MWs have already been met to date) and the other 50 MW will be allocated only by tender on industrial land in the periphery; the amount of generation from small PV facilities of up to 50 KW is unlimited in the periphery but is estimated that it will not increase above 200 MW. Regarding wind and biomass, the MNI estimates that wind will represent 800 MW and biomass 210 MW. In addition, the MNI is setting aside another 50 MW for local Israeli experimental technology. The MNI estimates that this penetration of renewable in the energy mix by 2020 will cost in 2010 terms $2.06 billion dollars and will cause an increase in the electricity tariff of a few percent each year.

A report by the international renewable energy research organization REN21 in October 2010 found that Israel is lagging far behind the rest of the world in producing electricity from renewable energy and that 18% of the world’s electricity is produced from renewable energy but only 0.4% in Israel.

17 July 2011 – Israel’s cabinet approved a plan to advance the production of energy from renewable resources, seeking 10 percent of electricity production from such methods by 2020. The aim of the plan is to reduce emissions and pollution in the electricity sector. The cabinet set a target of 1,550 megawatts (MW) of electricity from renewable resources by the end of 2014, and 2,760 MW by the end of 2020. Until 2014, quotas will be set allowing for 460 MW from large solar energy systems, 110 MW for systems targeted for self-consumption, 210 MW for production of electricity from biogas and waste, and 800 MW for wind energy. In 2014, the National Infrastructure Ministry will formulate policies to meet targets through 2020.