Doral CEO Highlights Energy Security as Key to Israel’s Defense Amid Ongoing Conflicts
At the "2026: From Frontline to Growth" conference organized by Yedioth Ahronoth and ynet, Doral CEO Yoni Hantsis discussed the critical role of energy security for Israel amid the prolonged conflict since October 7, 2023. He emphasized that Israel’s energy infrastructure, including gas platforms, the Bazan refinery, and power stations, faces direct missile threats, especially in confrontations with Iran under operations "With the Heart of a Lion" and "Roar of the Lion." Despite some damage to centralized facilities, the solar energy sector has seen significant growth, particularly through distributed renewable energy projects in agricultural kibbutzim near the Sha'ar HaNegev junction.
Hantsis explained that Israel’s centralized energy infrastructure is vulnerable to missile attacks due to its concentration, making power stations high-risk targets. He advocated for decentralizing the electricity grid with thousands of distributed systems, which statistically are nearly impossible to disable simultaneously. This decentralization ensures resilience, as demonstrated when many Doral facilities were hit on October 7 but continued operating, maintaining critical energy supply despite casualties among partners.
He also highlighted that renewable energy, combined with energy storage, is currently the most cost-effective electricity source. Israel leads globally in integrating storage with solar power, with Doral operating three solar-plus-storage plants. However, Hantsis criticized Israel’s energy targets as inconsistent and more symbolic than practical, calling for the removal of bureaucratic barriers rather than subsidies to accelerate deployment. He stressed the need for a multidisciplinary authority with enforcement powers to coordinate planning, land allocation, and financing, a role currently unfulfilled by the Energy Ministry.
Hantsis framed energy independence as a top global and security priority, reducing reliance on Iranian oil, Russian gas, and East Asian equipment. He warned that underutilizing Israel’s solar potential harms the economy, environment, and national security. Looking ahead, he said Israeli entrepreneurs must lead the global renewable sector, citing Doral’s ranking among the top ten solar developers in the U.S. and its massive projects, including one spanning 50,000 dunams, equivalent to Tel Aviv’s size. He concluded that the world faces historic electricity demand growth driven by data centers and industry, making solar-plus-storage the fastest and cheapest solution compared to slow conventional power plants.
