Cleantech IP in Israel

Given its sunny climate (yearly average of about 5.5 KwH/m²/day insolation), lack of local oil and scarce water, political factors (unwillingness and/or inability to procure Arab oil as an energy source, unwillingness to use nuclear sources for energy production), and educated population (1.35% PhD/scientists), Israel seems to be fertile ground for cleantech developments. Some early success was recorded by Luz, who developed a solar thermal system in the Negev that led to six 30 MW power plants, installed in California. Unfortunately Luz went bankrupt after the relaxation of the OPEC embargo of the 70's, but now have resurfaced as 'Luz II',  a subsidiary of BrightSource energy.  They dedicated their Solar Energy Development Center (SEDC) in the Negev's Rotem Industrial Park in 2008, a 5MW facility dedicated to R&D for a 'power tower'.

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