Tunisia launches tender for 50 megawatt solar plant with battery storage

Tunisian national utility Société tunisienne de l’électricité et du gaz has launched a tender for the construction of a 50 megawatt solar photovoltaic plant paired with battery storage capacity. PV Magazine and Inspenet both report that project proposals must be submitted by December 10. According to PV Magazine, the facility will feature 10 megawatts and 20 megawatt-hours of battery storage. [1][2][3][4][5][6]

The project will be located in Tataouine, in southern Tunisia, PV Magazine reported. The selected developers must construct the solar and storage facility as well as the associated high-voltage grid infrastructure and transmission lines. [1]

Battery energy storage systems use groups of batteries to store electrical energy on the grid. They act as rapid dispatchable power sources to stabilize electricity grids by transitioning from standby to full power in under a second. [7]

The tender follows earlier renewable energy initiatives in the country. PV Magazine reported that Tunisia’s Ministry of Energy and Mines launched a separate tender in March for a 300 megawatt solar farm alongside a 150 megawatt and 540 megawatt-hour battery storage system. Data from the Africa Solar Industry Association shows that Tunisia currently has 728.8 megawatts of operational solar capacity. [1]