Tunisia awards over 500MW of solar capacity in latest round of tenders

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Voltalia's RA Solar project in Egypt.
Tunisia plans to award contracts for 1.7GW of new renewable power capacity. Image: Voltalia.

Tunisia has announced the winners of tenders for over 500MW of solar capacity, part of a series of tenders to install 1.7GW of new renewable power capacity.

The contracts were awarded by the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, and fall under two tenders. The first calls for submissions for eight PV projects, with a combined capacity of 800MW, and the ministry has awarded contracts to French firms Qair International and Voltalia, and Norwegian developer Scatec.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

While the tender initially called for projects of 100MW of capacity each, Voltalia noted that its project will have a capacity of 139MW, and will sell power generated at the project under a 25-year electricity sales contract.

The latter companies already have a footprint in Tunisia, with Voltalia announcing plans to build a 130MW solar project in the country in May, and Scatec collaborating with Aeolus to build a 120MW project in August.

The second tender calls for two projects of unspecified capacity in Hechain, Gabes governate and Khobna, Sidi Bouzid governate. The contract for the latter project was awarded to Qair International, which will build a 198MW project in Sidi Bouzid, and while the ministry did not specify the rates awarded for the contracts, it noted that the “most competitive rate” secured was around €0.29/kWh (US$0.30/kWh), compared to the average tender price of €79.28/MWh (US$83.3/MWh) awarded in the latest round of auctions in France.

In addition to these tenders, the ministry has launched a tender for wind power, looking to award contracts to eight wind projects with a combined capacity of 600MW, as the government looks to both expand the country’s renewable power sector, and reduce its reliance on foreign power imports.

According to the US International Trade Administration, fossil fuels accounted for around 97% of the country’s electricity generation as of April this year, while nearly 47% of Tunisia’s critical natural gas needs were met through foreign imports as of June 2023. Figures from Enerdata suggest that Tunisia will need to invest around US$300 million a year until 2030 to reach a threshold of 500MW of annual renewable capacity additions, if it is to hit its target of accounting for 35% of power generation with renewable power.

Read Next

June 5, 2025
US renewable power developer Invenergy has commissioned the 250MW Hardin III Solar Energy Center in the US state of Ohio.
May 30, 2025
Companies delayed or cancelled US$14 billion in investments in clean energy projects in the US in the first four months of this year.
May 28, 2025
Arevon Energy has finalised US$98 million in tax equity financing for a 265MW portfolio currently under construction in Indiana.
May 28, 2025
In 2024, 20 million people improved their access to energy through the acquisition of solar energy kits (SEKs), according to GOGLA.
May 27, 2025
The European Commission has passed legislation intended to support the bloc’s clean energy manufacturing industry.
May 23, 2025
TotalEnergies has commissioned its largest solar portfolio in Europe, a collection of five assets in Spain with a combined capacity of 263MW.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
June 17, 2025
Napa, USA
Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece