The problem
Palestinian factories and villages buy most of their electricity from outside at prices that punish local industry — energy is the second-largest cost after raw materials for manufacturers — while communities face persistent supply bottlenecks they cannot control.
How it works
Qudra, a joint venture of the Bank of Palestine Group and the National Aluminum and Profiles Company (NAPCO), develops, finances, and operates utility-scale solar plants. Its Deir Abu Mishal 8.25 MW plant — the largest utility-scale solar installation in Palestine — powers four villages northwest of Ramallah with cost-effective renewable energy, while the Jammala 7.5 MW plant strengthens agricultural infrastructure by supporting water aquifers and nearby electrical networks. Led by General Manager Abdelrahman Hijawi, the company collects payment only as power is generated, adding no liabilities to the client.
Pain points
Manufacturing margins crushed by imported power prices, villages coping with unreliable supply, and a region heavily dependent on energy imports with few local alternatives.
Business model
Own-and-operate generation: Qudra puts its own capital — over $20 million — into solar projects and earns revenue selling electricity at less than half the cost of imported alternatives, paid for only as it is generated.
Challenges
Financing utility-scale builds in a turbulent economy, navigating political and economic instability during construction and operation, and scaling a pay-as-generated model across more villages and industrial clients.
Funding
- No verifiable funding rounds disclosed; the company reports investing over $20 million of its own capital into solar projects (SolarQuarter, Nov 2024).
Latest — Nov 2024
A November 2024 SolarQuarter feature profiles Qudra’s progress under General Manager Abdelrahman Hijawi: the Deir Abu Mishal and Jammala plants operating, electricity delivered at less than half the imported price, and a pay-as-generated model the company says it is confident enough to offer without adding client liabilities.