In November 1985 the Israel Ministry of National Infrastructures broke ground, at Sede Boqer, for the establishment of the Ben-Gurion National Solar Energy Center (originally known as the Ben-Gurion Solar Electricity Technologies Test Center). The Center was inaugurated in February 1987 and operated by Petroleum Services Ltd, on behalf of the Ministry, until June 1991. From July 1991 the Center has been operated by Ben-Gurion University's Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, also located at Sede Boqer. The Center was originally established by the Ministry to advance and assess promising alternative energy technologies, particularly those involving solar electric power generation. Since its transfer to Ben-Gurion University, the main emphasis has been research, but component and system testing still plays a significant role in the Center's activities.

Location & Access Latitude 30.8oN, Longitude 34.7oW, Elevation 475m above sea level. On the Sede Boqer campus of Ben-Gurion University, approx 50 km S. of Beersheba. The following diagram shows the position of the Ben-Gurion National Solar Energy Center within the administrative structure of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev   Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research Department of Solar Energy & Environmental Physics   Ben-Gurion National Solar Energy Center