U.S.-Israel clean-energy initiative unveils six new projects

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Israel’s Ministry of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources unveiled six new joint clean-energy projects on Monday as part of the Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Energy program, with a joint investment of more than $5 million.

The program aims to bring Israeli and U.S. energy interests into alignment through cooperative research and development initiatives.

The BIRD energy program is part of the broader U.S.-Israel Energy Dialogue, in which experts from both countries collaborate on new clean-energy technologies. This includes setting cooperative regulations that encourage sustainable development and enhancing cybersecurity for energy infrastructure.

“Renewable energy and energy-efficiency improvements are essential to shaping our clean-energy future,” U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said. “This partnership with Israel makes possible collaborative investments that move us closer to rigorous technology breakthroughs. These advancements are a key part of modernizing our energy infrastructure, enhancing our energy security and mitigating the risks of global climate change.”

The six DOE-funded research and development projects incorporate companies and universities in both the U.S. and Israel. The projects entail research on thin flexible photovoltaic panels, industrial energy efficiency solutions, and technologies to increase wind-farm energy output and reduce threats to bird populations.