Resilient Microgrid and Power Quality Strategies for Crisis Affected Distribution Systems in Palestine

Swiss partners

• EMPA: Mashael Yazdanie (main applicant)

 MENA partners

• Palestine Polytechnic University: Fouad Rashed Fouad Zaro (main applicant)

Presentation of the project

Communities in Palestine face daily energy disruptions that threaten hospitals, water systems, schools, shelters, and communication networks. Frequent outages, unstable voltage, and poor power quality make it difficult to sustain essential services, especially during crises when reliable electricity is most needed. These challenges highlight the urgent need for decentralized solutions that can operate independently of the fragile national grid. 

This project brings together Empa’s Urban Energy Systems Laboratory (UESL) in Switzerland and Palestine Polytechnic University (PPU) to co‑design resilient microgrid solutions that keep critical facilities running when the grid fails. UESL contributes advanced expertise in energy system modeling, scenario analysis, and optimization. PPU provides strong local knowledge, technical capacity, and direct access to field data through partnerships with utilities such as Hebron Electric Power Company (HEPCo). This collaboration ensures that solutions are both scientifically rigorous and grounded in the realities of Palestine’s energy system.

The project will deliver microgrid prototypes powered by solar energy and storage, tailored to crisis conditions. These systems will be designed to sustain hospitals, water pumping stations, and municipal services, reducing vulnerability and safeguarding community wellbeing. By integrating advanced modeling with field diagnostics, the partners will optimize microgrids for reliability, cost‑effectiveness, and resilience. 

Capacity building is central. Local engineers, students, and stakeholders will be involved through training sessions, workshops, and joint knowledge exchange activities. This ensures expertise transfer, strengthens local ownership, and supports replication in other fragile regions.

Beyond technical innovation, the initiative builds long‑term collaboration between Swiss and Palestinian institutions, enhances trust with local communities, and provides a blueprint for scaling resilience strategies. It directly supports the 2025 call on “Research in Crisis‑Affected Contexts: Continuity, Participation, and Reconstruction” by offering solutions that safeguard essential services and lay foundations for sustainable recovery.