In the heart of war-torn Syria, residents of ancient cities such as Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, and Hama, are turning to renewable energy out of necessity. Electricity scarcity in Syria has left households without power for long stretches of time, forcing residents to become some of the greenest on earth during the country’s darkest times. Despite being rich in resources, 90% of the population lives in poverty, and the average monthly wage for civil servants is equal to just $45. As a result, Syrians must turn to green energy solutions, which are often more affordable and reliable than traditional power sources.
Using photovoltaic panels connected to batteries, households are able to generate their own power for essentials such as refrigerators, lights, and televisions. With just a dozen panels, homes can have 24-hour electricity, reducing their reliance on power stations that have been damaged by warfare and denied fuel and spare parts by sanctions. When households receive an hour of power from the grid, the moment is celebrated with a cry of “Isha al-hakoumi,” or “government power has come.”
Syria’s ongoing conflict and economic instability have made it difficult for many citizens to make ends meet. The pound has plummeted from 48-50 to the dollar before the war to 6,600-7,000 to the dollar now. To survive and feed their families, Syrians often work several jobs. The average monthly wage is equivalent to just $18 (€17), and only civil servants, who had comfortable lives before the war and sanctions, earn a slightly higher salary of $45 a month. Faris, a bank employee who is one of the more fortunate ones, earns $240 per month, but he remains unmarried and lives with his parents.
Other Syrians are refugees, such as Abu Rashid, who is a Kurdish refugee from the northern Turkish-occupied Afrin district. He works as a cleaner in a hotel and at private homes on weekends, hoping to save enough money to refurnish his looted home in Afrin if he ever returns. Despite the challenges they face, Syrians are persevering, as demonstrated by the markets that have popped up on Aleppo’s pavements selling shoes, shirts, and plastic goods, with men desperate for work hawking their wares.
The loss of population has been a major setback for Syria. With a pre-war population of 24 million, there are now just 18 million residents left in the country. Although some argue that the country has enough Syrians and refugees should not return, others, like Issa, who is in the import-export business, believe that laborers are needed to rebuild infrastructure, homes, and the economy. However, Syria’s rebuilding efforts remain stalled until they can lift the sanctions that most nations have imposed, making it difficult to import the equipment and technology needed for reconstruction.
Despite the hardships they face, Syrians remain unbowed, finding joy in the simple pleasures of life. In Aleppo, hundreds of young people flock to Amo Hamid’s fast-food joint from noon till midnight daily, buying inexpensive falafel and burger sandwiches wrapped in twists of paper. At the vast Tourquase restaurant, middle-class clients who cannot afford meals spend entire evenings sipping water and puffing on water pipes. And in Damascus’s Old City, even laborers gather at the one open stall for a cup of coffee before starting their day.
The use of renewable energy in Syria is an example of how necessity can be the mother of invention. Despite facing severe economic difficulties and sanctions that hamper their rebuilding efforts, Syrians have found ways to adapt and thrive. In their determination to survive, they have become global leaders in green energy, proving that even in the darkest of times, hope can be found in the most unexpected places.
