Algeria is by far the largest country of the Mediterranean. Over 70% of its area are South of 20° latitude. According to a study of the German Aerospace Agency, Algeria has the largest long term land potential for concentrating solar thermal power plants. For further information about the Algerian power sector and CSP opportunities download the Algeria START Mission Report (PDF 2858KB)

Meanwhile both the Algerian government and the private sector are aware of Europe's commitment to renewable energy sources, in particular the European Union's aim to have 17% of renewable energy in 2010's energy mix. Internally, Algeria has also taken on its own commitment, with an aim of increasing the solar percentage of its energy mix to 5% by 2010. In January 2003, Algeria and the International Energy Agency agreed on technological cooperation in developing solar power.

Within its policy of climate and environment protection, the Algerian Ministry for Energy and Mines fully supports the objective of the CSP Global Market Initiative (GMI) to facilitate and expedite the building of 5,000 MWe of CSP worldwide over the next ten years. The Government of Algeria sees ideal opportunities of combining Algeria’s richest fossil energy source – the natural gas – with Algeria’s most abundant renewable energy source – the sun – by integrating concentrating solar power into natural gas combined cycles. Incentive premiums for CSP projects are granted within the framework of Algeria’s Decree 04-92 of March 25th, 2004 relating to the costs of diversification of the electricity production. The incentive premiums of this decree shall attract private investors to implement integrated solar combined cycle plants in Algeria. According to the current power expansion planning of the Ministry for Energy and Mines, the capacity targets for CSP power implementation in Algeria are 500 MW of new ISCCS plants until 2010. With these CSP targets and the new Decree 04-92, Algeria has established the GMI commitment on national solar thermal power market implementation.

Envisaged HV Electricity Links between the Maghreb and Europe

But beyond this Algeria is looking for a close partnership with the European Union so that Algerian plants may help deliver the green energy needed for Europe to meet its targets. To bring these plans to reality, and to enhance the participation of the private sector - both local and international - a new company has been created. In July 2002, Sonatrach and Sonelgaz formed a new, renewable energy joint venture company, called New Energy Algeria (NEAL). NEAL will look at development of solar, wind, biomass, and photovoltaic (PV) energy production.

In the frame of the new Algerian law on electricity and  public distribution of gas for channeling n ° 02-01 of February 5, 2002 to satisfy the national demand to reach national goals for power using renewable energies. To increase the share of renewable energies to the national power consumption, Abengoa will construct a 150 MW Integrated Solar Combined Cycle power plant.

The plant, located in Hassi R'Mel in northern Algeria, is composed of a conventional combined cycle and a solar field with a nominal thermal power of 95 MWth.

The goal of this project is to integrate the solar thermal technology in a conventional power plant. This combined use reduces the cost and facilitates the deployment of renewable energies in new industrializing countries.

This project is being promoted by Solar Power Plant One (SPP1), an Abener and NEAL joint venture formed for this purpose, and will operate and exploit the plant for a period of 25 years. The Algerian state society, Sonatrach, will buy all of the power produced. The plant will be composed of a 25-MW solar field of parabolic trough technology that will provide complementary thermal energy to a 150‑MW combined cycle.

The reflecting surface of the solar field will be over 180.000 m2. This innovative project will use the heat generated in the same steam turbine that makes use of the waste heat from the gas turbine for electricity. This configuration is doubly effective. On one hand, it minimizes the investment associated with the solar field by sharing components with the combined cycle. It also reduces the CO2 emissions associated with a conventional plant.

The solar field is composed of 216 solar collectors in 54 loops with an inlet heat transfer fluid temperature of 560 ºF and an outlet temperature of 740 ºF.