Fourteen (14) photovoltaic power plants with an installed capacity of 268 megawatts (MW) were commissioned in 2015 in the Central Highlands and the south, told APS Director of Renewable Energy Development Centre (CDER), Noureddine Yassa.

The year 2015 "was distinguished by the acceleration of photovoltaic plants achievements by the company Shariket Kahraba wa Taket Moutadjadida (SKTM, a subsidiary of Sonelgaz) in the Central Highlands and the South," the same official.

The production units are located in M'sila entries, Djelfa, Souk Ahras, El-Bayadh, Sidi Bel Abbes, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Naama, Djanet Adrar, Ain Salah, Tindouf, Tamanrasset, Laghouat and Ouargla.

The total cost of these 14 plants is around 70 billion DA, knowing that each of them has created at least 250 job positions during the period of implementation, in addition to fifty jobs during operation.

These capabilities are part of a comprehensive program for the production, by the end of 2016, 400 MW of solar electricity from 20 power plants with thirteen (13) in the Central Highlands and seven (7) the deep south of the country.

These achievements are part of the first phase of the National Programme for development of renewable energy (PNR), which aims to install 22,000 MW of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, or 27% of national power generation fleet with 4,500 MW installed by 2020.

These new plants are added to the Hassi R'Mel hybrid unit (150 MW) commissioned in 2011 and the wind farm Adrar (10 MW) and the experimental solar power plant of Ghardaia ( 1.1 MW) made for testing of photovoltaic technologies.

The latter two facilities were received in July 2014, will be recalled.

The year 2015 was also marked by the entry into production of the manufacturing unit of photovoltaic panels of the National Company of the electronics industry (ENIE) in Sidi Bel Abbes an annual capacity of 25 megawatts, parallel in pursuit of installing solar kits work for electrification and water pumping in the Highlands and isolated sites.

This was driven by the services of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries in collaboration with the CDER has completed the installation of over 1,000 solar kits for electrification and pumping.

A recall that an executive decree was issued in February setting out the original certification of renewable energy and modalities for the granting of premiums for the diversification of electricity production.

The original certification is a mechanism to certify that the energy originates from a renewable energy source or a cogeneration system (fossil and renewable), resulting in the issuance of a document guaranteeing that origin.

Release of the first doctors in promoting renewable energy

In terms of scientific research and training, the year 2015 was marked by the release of the first doctors of renewable energy in the context of master and doctoral training opportunities in universities and colleges, and, in addition to the launch of the renewable energy sector in vocational training.

Furthermore, the implementation of the national program for development of renewable energy and energy efficiency has enabled Algeria to win ten seats in the 2015 report "Climate Change Performance Index" by finishing in 39th place .

Algeria should see its ranking improved in 2016 thanks to the commissioning of a capacity of 343 MW of solar power, argues Mr. Yassa who was appointed to represent Algeria in the instance desktop UN scientist in charge of climate change namely the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

"This is the first time that Algeria is represented at this high international forum," he said.

Adopted in 2011 by the Council of Ministers, the NRP anticipates production in 2030 of 22,000 MW of renewable electricity, including solar and wind, for the domestic market, plus an additional 10,000 MW to export.

This corresponds to 27% of global electricity production by 2030 and double the current capacity of the national power generation fleet.