WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

1. Expansion of wind power for electricity generation;
2. Introduction of incentives for the use of solar thermal
energy;
3. Use of solar energy for further electrification of rural
areas, irrigation and seawater desalination;
4. Encouragement of the greater use of production
residues for energy generation and of geothermal
sources and small-scale hydropower plants.
As of October 2012, less than one per cent of the
Tunisian energy comes from renewable sources.
Through the completion of wind turbine installations
such as Bizerte Wind farm stage B with 70 MW, the total
installed capacity of wind is expected to be 244 MW by
the end of 2012, which equates to 5.5 per cent of the
national energy production. Solar energy is also
expected to play a bigger role in the future with a 10-
MW photovoltaic plant planned to be in operation by
2014 while a 50-MW concentrated solar power plant is
planned to be in operation in 2015. Hydropower in the
form of pumped storage systems will also be part of the
mix, with a feasibility study underway for 400-500 MW
capacity. 12
The Government has planned a total capacity of 16 per
cent renewable energies by 2016. This means that 12
per cent of the electricity will be coming from
renewable energy sources such as hydropower and
wind, with an installed capacity of 1,000 MW. Small
hydropower should provide 4 per cent of the produced
electricity. By 2030, 25 per cent should come from
renewable energy sources with an installed capacity of
4,700 MW.
Barriers to small hydropower development
Hydropower generally faces the typical challenges found
across the Maghreb region: water scarcity and overexploitation
of groundwater resources. 13 In addition, the
following obstacles are to be addressed:
Administration and planning constraints: the need
of approval from the Ministry of Agriculture before
a small hydropower plant can be operated; 2
Financing: the post-revolution effect has hurt the
economy with two key sources of income
experiencing deep decline, namely tourism revenue
and declining foreign investment. The capacity of
the external financial system to support funding for
projects and Tunisian companies was generally
(including renewable energy projects) undermined
by the increase in financial risk. Also, political
tensions in Libya make investments in Tunisia
uncertain and technological innovation and
recovery all more difficult. 11
References
1. Central Intelligence Agency (2012). The World
Factbook. Available from
www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
2. Ben Slimane, Chokri, Société Tunisienne de
l'Électricité et du Gaz Énergie Renouvelables (2011).
Tunesia Survey for International Center on Small Hydro
Power. October.
3. Berndtsson, R. (1987). The Influence of Climate
Change and Climatic Variability on the Hydrologie
Regime and Water Resources. Paper presented at the
Proceedings of the Vancouver Symposium, August 1987.
International Association of Hydrological Science
Publication number. 168.
4. Ahmed, S (2012). Electricity sector in Tunisia: Current
status and challenges—An example for a developing
country, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews,
Issue 15, p. 737–744.
5. Gam, I (2012). Electricity Demand in Tunisia, Energy
Policy, Vol 45, p. 714-20.
6. The European Neighbourhood and Partnership
Instrument (2011). Paving the Way for the
Mediterranean Solar Plan renewable Available from
www.pavingtheway-msp.eu/fileadmin/paving-theway/Country-report_-_Tunisia_-_Activity_1_4-1_01.pdf.
Accessed December 2012.
7. Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas (2012).
www.steg.com.tn/en/ser/presentation.html.
8. Hmida, H. and Gharbi, H. (2011). Renewable Energy
Recap: Tunisia. Ernst and Young.
9. Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas (2010).
Rapport Annuel 2010. Available from
www.steg.com.tn/fr/institutionnel/publication/rapport_
act2010/Rap_STEG_2010.pdf. Accessed December 2012.
10. Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas (2010).
Available from www.steg.com.tn/.
11. African Development (2012). Tunisia Interim Country
Strategy Paper 2012-13. Available from
www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Proj
ect-and-
Operations/Catalogue%20Interim%20strategy%20Paper
%20Anglais_Mise%20en%20page%201.pdf. Accessed
December 2012.
12. Harrabi, M. (2012). Renewable Energy Development
in Tunisia as of March 2012. Societé Tunisienne de
l’Electricité et du Gaz.
13. Abdelfadel, A. and Driouech, F. (2008). Climate
Change and its Impact on Water Resources in the
Maghreb Region. Arab Water Council.
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