Launched in August 2025, the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (REEE) Planning Services project was a collaboration between FREE energy, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and local municipalities in Lebanon. GIZ, a German development agency with global expertise in sustainable development, partnered with FREE energy to deliver community-level studies aimed at promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, and long-term sustainability.

The project involved conducting detailed energy assessments and feasibility studies across multiple municipalities, with the dual objective of reducing energy costs and enhancing community services. A representative example is the study carried out in Hawsh ElHarimi, Western Beqaa. The village’s street lighting network was assessed, revealing that nearly 80% of fixtures were non-operational and the system consumed an estimated 128,816 kWh per year if fully functional.

FREE energy proposed replacing all conventional fixtures with standalone solar-powered LED streetlights. This Energy Conservation Measure (ECM) was designed to ensure reliable night-long illumination, cut operating costs by approximately $34,780 per year, and deliver annual savings of 128,816 kWh. Financial analysis showed a payback period of 7.2 years, confirming the solution’s viability.

In addition to solar-powered streetlighting, the project also covered other scopes such as the design of solar PV systems and hybrid renewable energy solutions for community service facilities. Beyond the technical and financial benefits, these interventions carry significant environmental and social value. By reducing reliance on grid electricity and diesel backup systems, the project lowers greenhouse gas emissions while providing safer roads, improved public spaces, and reduced maintenance burdens for municipalities.

Other municipalities included in the initiative were Chouf-Baakline, Saghbine, Temnine El Fawqa, Machghara, Brital, and Talya, each benefitting from tailored renewable energy and efficiency measures suited to their local context.

In partnership with the Institut Européen de Coopération et de Développement (IECD) and its local partner Semeurs d’Avenir (SDA), FREE energy developed a set of nine competency-based curricula designed to strengthen Lebanon’s vocational training system in energy efficiency and sustainable construction.

The curricula were carefully structured to combine theoretical knowledge with practical skills, following the competency-based approach that emphasizes applied learning and market relevance. Each program was designed to prepare technicians with the tools, methods, and safety awareness needed to meet labor market demands while supporting Lebanon’s transition toward greener practices.

The nine developed curricula cover a wide range of energy efficiency and construction-related fields. In English, the set includes:

• Energy Audit Technician (70–100 hours)
• Electric Motor Control Technician (up to 100 hours)
• PV Maintenance Technician (100–150 hours)
• Home Automation Technician (up to 200 hours)
• Heating Efficiency (250–300 hours)
• HVAC Efficiency (250–300 hours).

In Arabic, the curricula include:

• Thermal Insulation (100 hours)
• Openings & Sealings (200 hours)
• Plastering & Cladding (200 hours).

By delivering these programs, the initiative equips vocational institutions with modern training materials, empowers young professionals with skills that are directly applicable to the job market, and contributes to building Lebanon’s future workforce in the green economy.

The TESSA Project Lebanon was launched to address the country’s deep energy and economic challenges by promoting sustainable energy solutions, creating green jobs, and building local capacity. Through a combination of energy audits, training, and project implementation, TESSA aims to reduce dependence on costly and polluting energy sources while fostering long-term social and economic resilience.

As part of this national framework, An-Nahar was selected as one of the pilot beneficiaries to showcase how Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) can be applied in practice. Under this model, FREE energy is implementing a mix of renewable energy and efficiency measures that includes the installation of a solar PV system, a lighting control system, thermostats, and water flow optimization valves. The scope also covers archiving room civil works, scanners and IT equipment for data management, curtain installations, as well as complete testing, commissioning, and training.
These measures will lower An-Nahar’s energy costs, reduce its environmental footprint, and demonstrate the business case for sustainability in Lebanon’s private sector.

The An-Nahar project is one among several being delivered through TESSA, highlighting how institutions across different sectors can benefit from sustainable solutions while contributing to Lebanon’s