A UK-based private energy company, TuNur Ltd, has filed an application with the Tunisian ministry of energy, mines and renewable energy for a 4.5GW solar export project.
The firm said in a statement that the project, which will be located at the newly established solar complex in the Sahara Desert – Southwest Tunisia – will expand to include programmes for local development and Tunisian industrial participation in the supply chain.
Solar export project to light up Europe
“Part of the production will be available for local and national consumption, at the option of the Tunisian government,” the firm said.
According to the statement, the generated power will be enough to power over 5 million European homes or fuel over 7 million electric vehicles.
The firm explains that three HVDC submarine cable systems are under development, which will allow the transport of power to Europe with low losses.
The first cable links Tunisia and Malta, as Malta is already connected to the European grid, and this connection will help reinforce Malta’s position as an energy hub in the centre of the Mediterranean.
The second cable system will link Tunisia to central Italy, with a shoring point North of Rome – this system has been under development for several years and is currently being evaluated as a project of common interest by the European community, the firm said.
Adding that a third cable system is under study and will link Tunisia directly to the South of France.
Kevin Sara, CEO of TuNur said: “The economics of the project are compelling: the site in the Sahara receives twice as much solar energy compared to sites in central Europe, thus, for the same investment, we can produce twice as much electricity.
“In a subsidy-free world, we will always be a low cost producer, even when transmission costs are factored in.”
