There is something genuinely encouraging about the Ministry of Energy’s new "Switch" program. At a time when young people are exposed to endless streams of short-lived content, choosing to educate them about energy, sustainability, efficiency and environmental responsibility is both timely and important. Israel needs a generation that understands the connection between energy consumption, energy security, economic growth and quality of life.
But precisely because this initiative is so positive, it is important to say the obvious: education alone is not enough.
We cannot expect the next generation to solve challenges that policymakers have postponed for much of the last decade.
Over the past ten years, the world has undergone a dramatic energy transformation. Governments have invested hundreds of billions of dollars in renewable energy, energy storage, smart grids and advanced infrastructure. At the same time, electricity demand has surged due to electric vehicles, data centers and more recently, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence.
Israel has made progress, but too often the pace has been slower than the challenge requires. Important decisions have been delayed, infrastructure projects have become entangled in bureaucracy and renewable energy targets have lagged behind those of leading economies.
The consequences are not merely environmental. They are economic, social and strategic.
Recent years have demonstrated that energy is no longer just about keeping the lights on. It is a cornerstone of national resilience. A country capable of generating electricity from diverse sources, storing energy efficiently and maintaining robust infrastructure during times of crisis is a stronger and more secure country.
That is why educational programs, while valuable, must be accompanied by a long-term national vision—one that includes substantial investment in grid modernization, accelerated deployment of renewable energy, regulatory reform and planning for the next twenty to thirty years rather than the next election cycle.
The students participating in the "Switch" program will enter the workforce within a decade. Some will become engineers, entrepreneurs, researchers and policymakers. The real question is not only what they will learn in the classroom, but what kind of energy system Israel will leave for them to inherit.
One of the greatest challenges facing Israel's energy sector is that public discussions are often framed by yesterday's realities, while the world is already operating in tomorrow's.
Energy is no longer simply about powering homes and factories. It is the foundation of the digital economy. Every AI query, every new data center, every electric vehicle and every smart manufacturing facility increases electricity demand. The countries that recognize this reality first will be the ones that attract investment, innovation and long-term economic growth.
In many ways, the race for energy has become a race for competitiveness.
When global companies decide where to build data centers, manufacturing facilities or technology hubs, they no longer evaluate only talent and taxation. They also ask whether reliable electricity will be available, whether energy costs are competitive, and whether infrastructure can support future growth.
This places Israel at a critical crossroads. On one hand, the country possesses extraordinary technological capabilities and one of the world's most innovative entrepreneurial ecosystems. On the other hand, without sufficient investment in energy infrastructure, Israel risks missing significant economic opportunities.
That is why our vision must extend beyond teaching students how to conserve electricity or understand renewable energy. Our goal should be to ensure that these young people grow up in a country that leads the global energy transition rather than merely reacting to it.
The geopolitical landscape further reinforces this point. Energy crises, regional conflicts, competition over critical resources and the technological race among nations have transformed energy into a strategic asset. Countries that fail to invest today in energy infrastructure and innovation may find themselves dependent on decisions made elsewhere tomorrow.
Programs like "Switch" are therefore important. They help cultivate a generation that understands the scale of the challenge ahead. But education cannot become a substitute for action.
The young people entering these classrooms next year should see that adults are doing their part as well—building infrastructure, accelerating projects, removing barriers and planning for decades ahead.
If the program succeeds in inspiring curiosity, responsibility and leadership, it will already have achieved something meaningful. Yet its ultimate success will be measured years from now, when we see whether Israel managed to translate that enthusiasm into policies, investments and infrastructure capable of securing a stronger future.
The next generation is absolutely capable of accomplishing more than we have. In fact, I hope it does. I hope it will correct some of the delays, missed opportunities and short-term thinking that have characterized parts of Israel's energy policy over the last decade.
But for that to happen, we must start today. Because energy education is a great beginning. Now it is time for energy policy to make the switch as well.
- The author is the CEO of Israeli solar energy firm GreenTops.