SHAREN has developed a Local Action Plan for Anjar (Lebanon), setting out a roadmap for sharing locally generated solar energy while protecting its UNESCO-listed heritage.
The SHAREN project continues to develop innovative solutions to support the energy transition in historic centres across the Mediterranean. One of its latest milestones is the preparation of the Local Action Plan (LAP) for Anjar (Lebanon), a strategic roadmap that sets out the steps towards establishing a future Energy Sharing Solution (ESS) tailored to the municipality’s unique characteristics and needs.
The Plan was developed by LCEC (Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation), SHAREN’s Lebanese partner, in close cooperation with the Municipality of Anjar through a participatory process involving local authorities, experts and other key stakeholders. A series of meetings and consultations helped identify the municipality’s main energy challenges and define the most suitable actions to address them.
Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Anjar is home to one of the best-preserved Umayyad archaeological sites in the world. This outstanding cultural heritage makes the integration of renewable energy particularly challenging. The Local Action Plan therefore proposes solutions that combine the protection of the town’s historic fabric with the deployment of solar energy systems and innovative models for sharing renewable energy.
The proposed approach foresees the gradual development of an Energy Sharing Solution (ESS) that will enable locally generated solar electricity to be shared among different buildings and energy users. This model will help reduce dependence on fossil fuels, improve energy efficiency and lower greenhouse gas emissions, while promoting a more collaborative and resilient energy system.
Beyond its environmental benefits, the initiative aims to become a reference for other historic Mediterranean towns seeking to advance their energy transition while safeguarding their cultural heritage.
Although the current situation in the country affects the implementation timeline, the Local Action Plan provides a solid foundation for turning this vision into reality when conditions allow.
Through this initiative, SHAREN demonstrates that energy transition and heritage conservation can go hand in hand, helping historic centres become more sustainable, resilient and better prepared for the challenges of the future.
Photo: © Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC BY 4.0
Last Update
31/07/2026
Next Med