Tools and measures to meet the electric power demand of the Gaza Strip governorates

Abstract

Load shedding or switching-off and switching-on of customers is a daily and common practice in the Gaza Strip governorates due to the high power shortage resulting from the imbalance between the power demand and the power supply. The power shortage is attributed to a number of factors ranging from a limited electric power supply, an ever increase in power demand, a high power loss in feeders and distribution grid, an absence of electric energy saving habits, and a political aspect. This paper presents a thorough evaluation of the current status of the electric power system in the Gaza Strip governorates and introduces a number of tools and measures that might lessen the power shortage to a relatively low value or even could secure the total electric power demand in the upcoming years. The main suggested tools and measures are the construction of the transmission grid, the interconnection with the regional electric power grid, the increase of imported power from neighboring countries, the expansion of the Gaza Power Generation Plant (GPGP). There are also other means such as rehabilitation of the electrical distribution grid, exploiting of renewable energy resources mainly solar and wind energies, and implementing of electric energy saving habits. The results have shown that significant reduction in the power shortage might be accomplished and that the power demand for the local community in the Gaza Strip governorates might also be secured in a relatively acceptable period of time.