The government is working to spread the use of solar power, which can enable consumers to save up to 70% on their hot water bills.
By Jamel Arfaoui for Magharebia in Tunis – 09/02/10
The Tunisian government has slashed the prices of solar panels in a bid to cut dependence on imported power and lower ordinary people's household expenses.
In addition to providing a sizable 30% discount on solar panels, which cost between 1,350 and 1,850 dinars, the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company is working with banks to provide customers with an affordable five-year installment plan for such purchases.
The deals are part of a general energy plan, revised by Parliament in February 2009, which includes 40 projects in the period 2010-2016 to bring more solar energy to homes and cut carbon emissions by 1.5 million tonnes per year. Solar energy is the power source of choice for just 1% of Tunisians, according to the Transatlantic21 Association, which monitors the global use of clean energy.
Economist Jannet Ben Abdellah told Magharebia that solar energy "enables the consumer to save up to 70% of hot water consumption costs".
Despite such incentives, ordinary Tunisians' reaction to the government measures has been mixed. According to engineer Assil Shihabi, the demand for solar panels will depend largely on geography.
"People in urban areas have started to demand [solar] services", she told Magharebia. "But ... in remote areas, especially in southern Tunisia, which is rich in solar energy and where temperature is higher than 40 degrees Celsius, people still don't know much about solar heaters".
Tunis homeowner Hamida Laouati is among those who have decided not to take advantage of the government measures. "Winter in Tunisia is short," she said, and solar power will "only provide hot water".
"However, if one day they manage to use [solar power] in lighting, I'll be the first one to participate without any hesitation," she concluded.
Other Tunisians have been happy to give solar power a try. Faicel Ben Zina has been using it for a year, and supports the government's project.
"I will have a refund of the costs I paid [for the panels and installation] in 10 years' time," he told Magharebia. "After that, I'll consume [electricity] for free."
Electricity costs are a concern for plugged-in Tunisia, which was ranked first in Powering Africa Foundation's annual ranking of electricity-dependent nations. According to the foundation, 99% of Tunisians have access to electricity.
Green Party chief Mongi Khamassi said this latest push for solar technology underlines Tunisia's commitment to environmental goals.
"Tunisia ... has high capabilities to develop the use of solar energy to produce electricity", he said in a statement to Magharebia on February 4th, observing that Tunisian soil receives the equivalent of 2,000 watts of sun rays per hour per day.
Solar energy "seems to be promising", Khamassi said. "Especially since many researchers have found solutions to the problem of storing huge quantities of renewable energies".
Tunisia is not alone in the Maghreb in terms of its solar ambitions. Morocco recently rolled out plans to spread the use of the greener, more renewable energy source. The kingdom's $9 billion solar project targets creating capacity of 2,000 MW by 2020 and reducing reliance on imports of electricity, oil and gas.
Source: Magharebia.com
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2010/02/09/feature-02.
By Jamel Arfaoui for Magharebia in Tunis – 09/02/10
The Tunisian government has slashed the prices of solar panels in a bid to cut dependence on imported power and lower ordinary people's household expenses.
In addition to providing a sizable 30% discount on solar panels, which cost between 1,350 and 1,850 dinars, the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company is working with banks to provide customers with an affordable five-year installment plan for such purchases.
The deals are part of a general energy plan, revised by Parliament in February 2009, which includes 40 projects in the period 2010-2016 to bring more solar energy to homes and cut carbon emissions by 1.5 million tonnes per year. Solar energy is the power source of choice for just 1% of Tunisians, according to the Transatlantic21 Association, which monitors the global use of clean energy.
Economist Jannet Ben Abdellah told Magharebia that solar energy "enables the consumer to save up to 70% of hot water consumption costs".
Despite such incentives, ordinary Tunisians' reaction to the government measures has been mixed. According to engineer Assil Shihabi, the demand for solar panels will depend largely on geography.
"People in urban areas have started to demand [solar] services", she told Magharebia. "But ... in remote areas, especially in southern Tunisia, which is rich in solar energy and where temperature is higher than 40 degrees Celsius, people still don't know much about solar heaters".
Tunis homeowner Hamida Laouati is among those who have decided not to take advantage of the government measures. "Winter in Tunisia is short," she said, and solar power will "only provide hot water".
"However, if one day they manage to use [solar power] in lighting, I'll be the first one to participate without any hesitation," she concluded.
Other Tunisians have been happy to give solar power a try. Faicel Ben Zina has been using it for a year, and supports the government's project.
"I will have a refund of the costs I paid [for the panels and installation] in 10 years' time," he told Magharebia. "After that, I'll consume [electricity] for free."
Electricity costs are a concern for plugged-in Tunisia, which was ranked first in Powering Africa Foundation's annual ranking of electricity-dependent nations. According to the foundation, 99% of Tunisians have access to electricity.
Green Party chief Mongi Khamassi said this latest push for solar technology underlines Tunisia's commitment to environmental goals.
"Tunisia ... has high capabilities to develop the use of solar energy to produce electricity", he said in a statement to Magharebia on February 4th, observing that Tunisian soil receives the equivalent of 2,000 watts of sun rays per hour per day.
Solar energy "seems to be promising", Khamassi said. "Especially since many researchers have found solutions to the problem of storing huge quantities of renewable energies".
Tunisia is not alone in the Maghreb in terms of its solar ambitions. Morocco recently rolled out plans to spread the use of the greener, more renewable energy source. The kingdom's $9 billion solar project targets creating capacity of 2,000 MW by 2020 and reducing reliance on imports of electricity, oil and gas.
Source: Magharebia.com
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2010/02/09/feature-02.
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