EDF Commissions 40 MW Solar PV Project In Israel
The Israeli subsidiary of EDF has commissioned the largest solar power project in the country, laying a strong foundation for what looks set to be a robust solar power program.
EDF Énergies Nouvelles Israel and Arava Power have jointly commissioned a 40 MW solar PV power plant, which is the largest commissioned in Israel so far.
Planning and development for the Ketura Solar park started in 2009 but the developers only managed to achieve financial closure in 2013. The project was completed after 7 months of construction at a cost of $79 million.
EDF and Arava Power are also working on a second solar PV project which is believed to have an installed capacity of around 50 MW. The project is expected to be commissioned soon, the companies reported.
Both the projects are among the 9 solar PV projects which were issued licenses in 2012, which will have a total installed capacity of 385 MW. The Public Utility Authority has also issued 50 licenses for smaller projects with a total installed capacity of 116 MW.
Israel has set a target to increase the share of solar power in the country’s power generation to 10% by 2020. For this, the Israeli government has approved several solar thermal power projects as well.
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.
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