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The government has announced a slate of new projects.
- Projects include the construction of five solar power projects with a cumulative capacity of 500 MW.
- Tunisia also plans to deploy 30MW of solar panels in public buildings.
Tunisia is looking to harness its renewable energy potentials to reduce its 55 per cent energy deficit. Currently, over 1,000MW of solar PV projects have been deployed across the country. The country’s National Agency for Energy Conservation (ANME) has recently approved the first tranche of five solar power projects with a cumulative capacity of 500 MW. The plants will be sited in Tozeur (southern Tunisia), Sidi Bouzid (50 MW), Kairouan (100 MW ), Gafsa (100 MW) and Tataouine (200 MW), according to the ANME director.
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The proposed tariff for the Tataouine project is 72 millimes/kilowatt hour is the lowest ever solar tariff in Africa and one of the lowest globally. Proposed tariffs for the projects average 80 millimes/kWh. A total capacity of 36 MW was approved for grid-connected consumers looking to self-generate via solar PV.
Tunisia has also commenced a new project (co-funded by Germany’s Development Bank (KfW)) to deploy solar panels in public buildings. The country aims to install 30 MW of solar PV in 250 public establishments; the government estimates that this will lead to a 20% reduction in electricity bills.
Tunisia is also looking to launch a new residential solar project focused on households consuming below 1,800 KWh/year. The project, which is expected to be rolled out over 5 years, will enable 800,000 Tunisian households to save up to 41 million dinars in energy costs. It will generate 53 MW of photovoltaic solar power and result in CO2 emissions dropping by 0.88 million tonnes by 2044, the government has added. As part of the project, the government plans to install 4,000 PV panels by 2022.