Tunisia commissions first floating PV park in MENA

The first floating photovoltaic (PV) park in the Middle East and North Africa went online in Tunisia on Saturday and is expected to supply 265 MWh of clean electricity annually to a neighbourhood in the country's capital.

The plant was built on an area of 2,500 square metres (2,990 sq yd) at Lac 3 in Tunis in partnership between the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company, known as STEG, and power producer Qair Group, news agency Tunis Afrique Press (TAP) reported.

The electricity produced by the facility with a capacity of 200 kWp will be enough to meet the needs of about 130 households in the capital.

The implementation of the project cost EUR 500,000 (USD 526,199) and was backed by the French Ministry for the Economy, Finance and Industry.

During the inauguration of the plant, Qair Director General Jerome Billerey said that the group is keen to launch more projects in Tunisia and support the country in its energy transition.

“Tunisia is determined to develop the renewable energy sector despite the delay it has experienced,” said Tunisia's Minister of Industry, Energy and Mines Neila Gonji as cited by TAP.

The North African country aims to reach a 35% share of renewable energy in its energy mix by the end of the decade.

(EUR 1 = USD 1.052)

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