SDG 7 — Affordable and Clean Energy

Energy Efficiency Plan

In line with its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Phoenicia University (PU) has taken concrete steps toward improving energy efficiency and expanding its use of renewable energy. The university has installed a rooftop solar PV plant comprising 633 solar panels with a total capacity of 376.635 kW, with renewable sources now accounting for 66% of total campus energy consumption — reflecting its ongoing dedication to renewable energy and reducing its carbon footprint. To support this commitment, PU regularly conducts environmental and energy audits to identify areas of high energy wastage and guide improvement efforts.

Solar PV Installation | Phoenicia University 

To reduce energy consumption at the university level, PU follows well-defined internal guidelines, supported by several practical initiatives:

• Conventional lighting has been replaced with LED lighting in areas with high working hours.
• Energy-efficient air-conditioning units have been adopted, with regular maintenance carried out to ensure optimal performance.
• A bicycle facility is available within the campus for use by students and staff.
• Multiple parking areas have been organized to maintain proper traffic flow and discipline across campus.
• The university provides bus transportation for employees and promotes vehicle pooling; the majority of faculty and staff who do not use the bus service participate in carpooling to commute to campus.

Through the Facility Management department, PU ensures timely maintenance of buildings and electrical equipment to sustain operational efficiency and conducts an annual energy audit to keep consumption within anticipated levels and identify further conservation opportunities.

Building on these operational measures, PU has a process in place for carbon management and emissions reduction, combining renewable energy adoption, energy efficiency improvements, sustainable transportation, carbon offsetting through tree planting events to help offset carbon emissions and support carbon sequestration, and ongoing monitoring via annual environmental and energy audits.

Beyond these operational efforts, PU demonstrates its commitment to SDG 7 through ongoing academic research addressing the pressing energy challenges facing Lebanon and the wider region. A recent study, "Feasibility Study of PV/T Green Hydrogen Energy System for a House in Lebanon" ( https://doi.org/10.1109/REDEC65313.2025.11190160 ), demonstrates how integrated solar and green hydrogen systems can offer an economically viable alternative to diesel-based electricity generation for Lebanese households. This research not only advances scientific understanding of clean energy alternatives but also equips students with hands-on exposure to real-world energy challenges, reinforcing the university's role as both a knowledge generator and a training ground for future professionals in the renewable energy sector.

In addition to institutional research efforts, individual faculty members at PU further advance SDG 7 through direct engagement in policy-oriented energy research. Dr. Haytham Dbouk contributes to policy development on clean energy through two major research initiatives:

• Scientific and Technical Investigator/Consultant, IGT–AUB–Templeton Microgrids Project (international research collaboration): examines how more efficient and equitable microgrid structures can improve electricity access, reduce costs and inefficiencies, and strengthen household and enterprise resilience, with policy-oriented outputs and stakeholder engagement informing fairer, more inclusive local energy market policies.
• Co-Principal Investigator, LAU President's Intramural Research Fund (national and regional research and policy-relevant innovation): develops AI-enabled frameworks for renewable-energy integration, equitable energy distribution, and scalable energy-management models relevant to households, businesses, industries, and municipalities, with intended outputs including research publications, policy briefs, and case studies.

Through this sustained research engagement — spanning institutional projects and individual faculty leadership — PU reaffirms its dedication to supporting Lebanon's transition toward a more sustainable, affordable, and resilient energy future.

Assistance to low-carbon innovation

PU supports low-carbon innovation through the Phoenicia University Incubator (PUI), which provides practical assistance to a diverse range of start-ups, including those working on sustainable and clean energy solutions. This is exemplified through the university's annual Idea Fair, a public pitching platform where students and community innovators present business ideas to a panel of faculty and industry mentors. At the April 2024 edition, one of the eight ideas presented was a clean electricity solution harnessing oceanic power — a low-carbon technology generating renewable energy from ocean-based sources. Following evaluation by the PU advisory board, this idea was selected as the winning submission and invited to join PUI's incubation track, gaining access to the Incubator's full range of support services, including workspace, mentorship, waived office rent, free legal and accounting support, and access to specialized lab equipment. Through this pathway, PU demonstrates a direct mechanism for translating early-stage low-carbon innovation into viable, self-sustaining ventures, reinforcing its broader role in fostering a low-carbon economy within the local community.

Idea Fair | Phoenicia University