Unit Alternative Energy and Environmental Research was founded in mid-1999 as a result of the need for the nation to specialized research center and through which the provision of various and diverse disciplines that exist in Palestine Polytechnic University. The main objective of the establishment of the unit was to promote the use of renewable and diversified clean energy sources in Palestine, in addition to the promotion and development of energy-saving programs and contribute to finding technologies that contribute to raising the efficiency of energy systems while preserving the environment. As for the issue of the environment, the goal of the establishment of the unit is to contribute to the provision of the necessary infrastructure to examine the elements of the environment, the fact that this is the basis for scientific research and development, in addition to this and to contribute to sustainable scientific development, the unit is developing a capacity building at the national level in various vital disciplines in energy programs and the environment.
Given the short period since the establishment of the unit it was the unit both in terms of energy and the environment in several activities and events. For alternative energy level of the Unit, including the following:
1. The development of alternative energy systems use technically and economically feasible and compatible with the Palestinian nature. Accordingly, the unit whereupon encouraging the implementation of the graduation projects in this area. He has graduate students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering professors under the supervision of specialists design and build energy that exploit solar and wind energy conversion systems.
2. The Unit and in cooperation with the American University of Beirut and the Jordan University of Science and Technology, and the University of Birzeit the development of joint programs and projects in the areas of alternative energy and the rationalization of energy consumption. Has been previously trained cadres unity in Solar Energy Center of the University of Florida in the United States they have also been trained by Origen University on topics of alternative energy and energy audits in residential, commercial and public buildings to add to check the solar power equipment performance, such as water heaters. The unity of Palestine in the Steering Committee of the project cooperation, which also includes Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia and the United States, which supports the project.