Tunisian CSP plant to supply electricity to European grid

The project, which is being taken forward in a partnership between London-based investors Low Carbon and utility scale solar developer Nur Energie, is currently undergoing permitting in Tunisia and Europe, and is set to reach financial close and start construction in 2016.

It is claimed that when the project comes online by late 2018 it will have the potential to provide power to more than 2.5 million UK homes.

According to Low Carbon, the majority of the project’s feasibility and preliminary licencing has now been completed including an offer of a 2GW grid connection solution (STMG) from Terna, the Italian grid operator, for an interconnection point in Italy. The project is now entering into the next stage of permitting and development, putting it on track to start construction by the end of 2016.

According to the European Commission’s Institute for Energy, 0.3 per cent of the sunlight that shines on the Sahara and Middle Eastern deserts could supply all of Europe’s energy needs.