EDF Energies Nouvelles has commissioned yet another solar PV project in Israel which is the largest solar power project in the country.
According to recent media reports, EDF Energies Nouvelles has commissioned 50.1 MW solar PV power project in Israel. The project is the country’s largest solar power project and adds to another similar project commissioned last year. With the implementation of this project the total operational solar power capacity in Israel owned by EDF Enegies has increased to 160 MW, from 11 projects.
The project is located in Negev desert over an area of 60 hectares and comprises of around 200,000 solar modules supplied by Photowatt. The project is expected to generate enough electricity to meet the annual demand of around 30,000 households.
EDF Energies Nouvelles already operates 40 MW solar power project in the Negev desert which was commissioned in 2015. The project was completed after 7 months of construction at a cost of $79 million.
Some of the largest solar power projects to be commissioned in Israel over the next few years will be located in the Negev Desert. Abengoa announced financial closure for both of those projects with installed capacity of 110 MW capacity. The project is expected to be commissioned in 2017, and is one of the three projects selected under Israel’s Ashalim region 250 MW tender announced in 2008, which is made up of two solar thermal plants and one photovoltaic plant.
The Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources Ministry of Israel seeks to increase the share of renewable energy in the country’s electricity consumption to 10% by 2020 and 17% by 2030.
