Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
for Marine Renewable Energy in Israel
Looking to the Sea: Shaping Israel’s Energy Future in the Mediterranean
The Israeli National Center for the Blue Economy has been selected by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure to lead a National Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) examining the future of marine renewable energy and climate-supporting technologies in Israel’s Mediterranean waters.
This landmark national initiative will establish a comprehensive knowledge base to guide responsible development of Israel’s marine space, balancing economic growth, environmental protection, and the public interest.
The assessment will run for approximately 18 months under the supervision of a steering committee and expert advisory board chaired by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. The process follows international best practices in long-term marine spatial planning and strategic environmental assessment and will support evidence-based policy decisions for Israel’s energy future.
Objectives
- Map relevant marine renewable energy and climate technologies
- Assess technological maturity (Technology Readiness Levels – TRL)
- Evaluate economic feasibility
- Analyze environmental and ecological implications
- Examine social and maritime-use impacts
- Identify optimal zones for offshore deployment in Israel’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone
- Formulate policy, regulatory, and planning recommendation
The ultimate goal is to support informed national decision-making, strengthen Israel’s long-term energy security, and advance climate objectives through sustainable marine development
Technology Areas Under Examination
- Offshore wind (fixed-bottom and floating)
- Offshore energy storage systems (compressed air, thermal, hydrogen-based)
- Floating offshore solar PV
- Marine and subsea carbon sequestration technologies
- Wave energy and marine current energy
- Seawater-based thermal exchange systems
- Marine biomass and algae-based bioenergy systems
- Offshore hydrogen production and transmission
- Gradient-based marine energy (pressure, salinity, and temperature)
The study will also examine enabling infrastructure, including offshore electricity transmission systems, modular grid connection solutions, anchoring and mooring systems, and maintenance logistics
National Impact
Due to land constraints, Israel’s Mediterranean marine space represents a strategic opportunity to expand renewable energy deployment at scale.
Marine renewable energy can help diversify national energy sources, increase clean electricity capacity, enable technologies without terrestrial alternatives, enhance energy resilience, and strengthen Israel’s position as a leader in Blue Tech innovation.
The Strategic Environmental Assessment will serve as a foundational planning framework for future marine energy policy and sustainable maritime development in Israel.
See here for the dedicated SEA page on the website of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.
Invitation to Share Information
Marine Renewable & Climate Technologies
To support the development of national policy, regulatory frameworks, and sustainable planning for the marine domain, the Israeli National Center of Blue Economy is conducting a comprehensive assessment of technologies, their maturity, environmental and social implications, and their suitability for deployment in Israel’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone.
The National Center of Blue Economy hereby invites professional entities, research institutions, technology developers, private companies, NGOs, and other relevant stakeholders to submit information, data, case studies, and technical materials related to marine renewable energy and climate-supporting technologies.
Scope of Requested Technologies
- Electricity collection and transmission infrastructure from offshore generation facilities to
shore, including modular grid-connection solutions - Marine Energy Test Sites (METs) for wave, tidal, current, wind, and hybrid technologies
- Commercial-scale marine energy farms (Marine Energy Farms)
- Floating offshore solar PV systems
- Wave energy converters and technologies utilizing vertical water-column motion, including tidal range systems
- Marine current and tidal stream energy technologies
- Marine biomass and bioenergy technologies, including:
- Algae cultivation systems
- Nutrient requirements
- Growth conditions
- Bioenergy production pathways
- Offshore wind turbines – fixed-bottom and floating
- Airborne wind energy systems (kite-based or tethered airborne turbines)
- Gradient-based energy technologies, including pressure, salinity, and temperature gradients
- Offshore energy storage systems, including:
- Compressed air energy storage
- Thermal storage
- Hydrogen-based storage
- Offshore hydrogen production and transmission technologies
- Marine and subsea carbon sequestration technologies, including:
- Algae sinking
- Marine Animal Forest (MAF) approaches
- Carbonate precipitation and mineralizatio
Information Requested
- Technology Readiness Level (TRL)
- Social and marine-use interactions ( fisheries, navigation,recreation, etc.)
- Required physical and environmental conditions
- Synergies or conflicts with other maritime activities
- Infrastructure requirements (grid, anchoring, maintenance,logistics)
- Existing pilot, demonstration, or commercial references
- Environmental impacts (positive and negative)
- Key barriers, challenges, and future development trends
Submission Guidelines
Please submit:
- A structured document (PDF or Word format)
- Supporting technical materials (if available)
- Contact details for follow-up communication
Deadline for submission: May 2026
Submissions to: [email protected]
This invitation is solely for the purpose of sharing information and does not imply any commitment or obligation on our part to procure services or products.