A 300 MW solar project has been switched on in Algeria.
According to a social media post published by the country’s Ministry of Energy and Renewable Energy, the El Oued Foullia solar energy station, located in the El Oued province, is Algeria’s largest operational solar project to date.
The project is owned by Sonelgaz, Algeria’s state-owned electricity and gas utility. Open-access platform GEM lists China State Construction Engineering Corporation as the operator.
The site forms part of the first phase of the Algerian government’s national program for the development of renewable energy, which is targeting the rollout of around 3.2 GW of renewables capacity. The ministry’s latest update says this phase will be distributed across 21 plants and 14 provinces. Longer term plans are targeting the deployment of 15 GW of solar by 2035.
A government statement says the inauguration of the 300 MW project reduces reliance on traditional energy sources and supports economic and local development. It is the third large-scale solar project to be commissioned in Algeria this year, following the inauguration of the Tendla and El-Ghrous projects, both with a capacity of 200 MW.
The Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) has tracked 2.87 GW of operational solar in Algeria, according to figures available in its project database, 1.7 GW of which is listed as commercial and industrial projects. The database identifies a further 220 MW of solar at various stages of development.
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