The Israeli government has greenlit a national initiative to install solar panel roofing on public sports fields throughout the country. A budget of 34 million Shekels (approximately USD 10 million) has been earmarked to assist local authorities in completing these installations by the end of the year. As part of the plan, water utilities involved in these projects will receive a three-year exemption from construction permits.
Additional regulatory easing is also being advanced to simplify and promote the installation of solar roofs.
According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection, this initiative offers multiple practical advantages under one framework: it enables extended use of sports facilities, provides shade and shelter from weather, produces clean, zero-emission electricity, helps mitigate the urban heat island effect, bolsters local energy independence, and transforms maintenance costs into potential revenue for municipalities.
“This is a smart use of existing infrastructure, turning neighborhood sports fields into community energy hubs,” the ministry said.
Minister of Environmental Protection Idit Silman described the project as a significant environmental and social step. “It promotes clean energy, curbs air pollution, helps cool urban areas, and enhances residents’ quality of life—especially in dense city centers,” she noted. “It’s a strategic use of public assets that links our climate objectives with stronger community resilience, all while moving toward our national goal of 30 percent renewable energy by 2030.”
