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Tunisia and Solar in Carthage

Tunisia is located in the Maghreb region of North Africa. Unlike many Arab countries it only has modest oil  resources but as compensation a long Mediterranean coastline, close to Europe with and a long history dating back to the Romans and Carthaginians. The Romans ruled Tunisia for 800 years and it was a granary of the empire. Later Tunisia was controlled (loosely) by the Ottomans for 300 years until the French took control in 1881. They left in 1956 but Tunisia still has a strong French culture and the capital, Tunis has a strong French influence.

After 1956, Tunisia had a succession of authoritarian rulers but it has remained a secular state and it was corruption that finally led to a revolution in 2011.

After the revolution there were several years of instability including terrorist attacks in the tourist areas but a democratic Tunisia has been sustained and its now recognised as the most democratic country in the Arab world. GDP is $151 bilion and the country has an area of 163,000 km2. The population in 2018 was 11.6 million with 60% living in the urban areas especially Tunis (1.2 million) and Sfax (350,000).

There is a free trade agreement with the EU and this has encouraged inward investment from countries keen to have access to the EU market. Agriculture particularly olives, grains and the vine are important export earners. With its long coastline and wonderful beaches plus classical ruins at Carthage and other sites across the country, tourism has grown into a major industry. The terrorism incidents in 2015 put back that industry but its now recovering and tourists were returning until the pandemic. Fortunately Tunisia has not been badly effected so they are now waiting for Europe to reopen.

Tunisian Electric Grid

Like many countries in the region it has bold plans for renewables with 3,500 mW by 2030 accounting for 30% of power needs. So far only wind has been connected to the Tunisian grid system with 350 mW.  In 2019 the World Bank agreed a $150 million dollar loan for the development of solar energy. Also in May 2019 Tunisia agreed the building of an interconnector cable between Italy and Tunisia, a distance of 192 kms. It should be completed by 2023. It will give Tunisia access to the grid systems of Europe which will help stabilise their grid and give Italy access to power from massive solar investment in southern Tunisia, The plan is for 4,500 mW but to realise the investment it will be dependent on access to inward investment: The interconnector will help attract that investment.

El Hawaria – TUNISIA – EMBARKATION POINT FOR THE INTERCONNECTOR CABLE TO ITALY

TOZEUR SOLAR FARM

But the real potential is for local solar especially around historical landmarks and national parks including Carthage. There are also a chain of resorts along the Mediterranean coast including Sousse and Hammamet with dozens of hotels that could generate their own solar.  In the pre revolution period small towns with no grid access were fitted with solar panels and solar streetlights. This could be revived using solar containers as the focus of a mini grid integrating with existing panels.

Solar insolation varies widely from North to South. In the north its 4.5 kwHrs/m2/day (on basis of 6 hours per day). In the south it’s a massive 6 kWhrs /m2/day with 3,500 hours of sunnshine per year. That equates to 350 sunny days per year so the potential is enormous. Countries like Tunisia, Morocco and Libya could become the energy providers of the 21^st Century in the same way Saudi and other Arab countries provided most of the energy in the 20^th Century but this time it will be a lot cleaner.

Biblio

CIA world factbook

Wikipedia

Esmap Solargis for Global Solar atlas (World Bank)

Energy Reporters

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