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Jerusalem — Israel could face nationwide blackouts during wartime due to deep structural weaknesses in its energy system, a newly published study has warned.
The research, led by Dr. Erez Cohen from Ariel University’s Department of Middle Eastern Studies and Political Science, highlights how Israel’s overreliance on natural gas and centralized electricity production make it vulnerable to attacks or disruptions.
Published in the journal Energy Sources, Part B: Economics, Planning, and Policy, the study concludes that the country is not adequately prepared for prolonged emergencies or major supply interruptions.
Cohen’s team analyzed energy production and consumption data between 2018 and 2024, alongside Israel’s policy documents and regulatory frameworks. The most recent Gaza war served as a case study illustrating the sector’s fragility during conflict.
According to the findings, Israel’s energy infrastructure faces four major weaknesses: overdependence on offshore gas, a looming supply-demand gap, inadequate energy storage, and excessive centralization.
Currently, nearly 70% of Israel’s electricity comes from natural gas extracted from the Tamar and Leviathan gas fields — facilities that lack strategic reserves or redundancy. Any damage or cyberattack on these sites could cripple the power supply nationwide.
The State Comptroller’s 2024 report also warned that Israel could experience a shortage of natural gas by 2026, potentially resulting in economic losses amounting to hundreds of millions of shekels.
Moreover, despite reaching 12% renewable energy generation, Israel has almost no storage systems to sustain power during crises, further heightening its vulnerability.
Cohen warned that such dependency could lead to a catastrophic scenario where hospitals, water systems, and defense installations lose electricity during conflict. “Any hit on a major gas platform could paralyze the entire economy,” he said.
To counter these risks, Cohen urged the government to adopt decentralized microgrids that would allow vital infrastructure to operate independently if the national grid fails.
He also called for urgent investment in large-scale energy storage systems, describing them as essential to national security rather than environmental luxury.
Additionally, Cohen recommended creating a joint emergency coordination unit integrating the defense establishment, Energy Ministry, and Cyber Authority to safeguard the electricity network during crises.
“We tend to think of electricity as a consumer product,” Cohen concluded, “but it’s a strategic weapon. Without backup, storage, and decentralization, Israel may find itself in the dark — precisely when it needs the light most.”
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members