Renewables
Tunisia launches tender for 50 MW solar and storage plant
Tunisia's state utility has announced a tender for a 50 MW solar installation paired with battery storage.
Key points
- STEG issued a tender for a 50 MW solar plant with 10 MW/20 MWh battery storage.
- The facility will be situated in Tataouine in southern Tunisia.
- The project follows a larger 300 MW solar tender launched by the Ministry of Energy and Mines in March.
What happened
Société tunisienne de l’électricité et du gaz (STEG), the national utility of Tunisia, has initiated a procurement process for a 50 MW photovoltaic project. According to reporting by pv magazine, the installation will include a battery energy storage system with a capacity of 10 MW and 20 MWh.
Developers who secure the contract will be responsible for constructing the generating facility alongside necessary high-voltage grid infrastructure and transmission lines. The site is designated for Tataouine in the southern region of the country.
Why it matters
This initiative builds on earlier procurement efforts by the Tunisian government. In March, the Ministry of Energy and Mines tendered a 300 MW solar farm coupled with a 150 MW/540 MWh storage system. Additional licenses for four utility-scale projects totaling 500 MW were also granted that month under a broader 1.7 GW renewable energy framework.
Data from the Africa Solar Industry Association places Tunisia's operational solar capacity at 728.8 MW. World Bank figures from 2021 show that renewables accounted for 2.8 percent of the nation's electricity output.
What comes next
With new installations progressing, including recent utility additions coming online, the country continues to approach the 1 GW operational solar benchmark.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Renewables are the fastest-growing part of the world’s energy system. The COP28 goal is to triple capacity by 2030, and solar mini-grids are the fastest route to power for millions of people without electricity.
2.8% of electricity in Tunisia was renewable in 2021Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
