Lebanon Cancels Temporary Regulations for Solar PV Under 1.5 MW, Regulator to Develop New Mechanism

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 11, the Lebanese Prime Minister's Office announced that it will no longer proceed with the previously established installation management regulations for solar PV systems under 1.5 MW, and will hand over the relevant permitting mechanism and technical conditions to the National Electricity Regulatory Authority for development. As a result, Joint Decision No. 1234, previously issued by the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, and the Ministry of Energy and Water, will no longer be implemented.

Joint Decision No. 1234 was issued on September 9 and applied to PV systems with a generation capacity below 1.5 MW, originally intended to establish unified administrative, planning, structural, and safety management procedures. Under the regulation, such projects did not require approval from the Ministry of Energy and Water, but project construction still had to go through municipal procedures, with structural engineers and electrical or electromechanical engineers bearing technical responsibility for design and installation, and confirming after completion that the system meets relevant safety requirements. The relevant approval was valid in principle for one year, and the project had to be completed within the validity period.

The Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water previously stated that the joint decision was originally a transitional arrangement, planned to remain in effect only until the National Electricity Regulatory Authority formulated formal procedures and technical standards in accordance with Article 26 of Law No. 462/2002 on the Electricity Sector. With the regulatory authority now established and beginning to develop the relevant mechanism, the government decided on September 11 to cancel the temporary arrangement.

According to the latest arrangement announced by the Prime Minister's Office, the installation mechanism, permitting conditions, and regulatory requirements for solar systems under 1.5 MW will be determined by the National Electricity Regulatory Authority. When formulating the new rules, the regulatory authority will also consult the Ministry of Environment and other relevant administrative and public institutions.

Lebanon's National Electricity Regulatory Authority has previously launched a pilot program for the permitting application mechanism for distributed renewable energy projects, and is accepting inquiries from developers, investors, institutions, and individuals regarding permitting and regulatory procedures for renewable energy projects.

As of the end of 2025, Lebanon's cumulative installed solar capacity stood at approximately 1,505 MW, up from 1,081 MW at the end of 2024. In addition to the regulatory adjustments for distributed PV, the country is currently advancing grid-connected PV projects with a total scale of up to 350 MW, paired with battery energy storage systems of up to 1 GWh, with the deadline for expressions of interest for the relevant projects extended to September 30, 2026.