The climate change, high oil prices and a highly volatile energy market, have prompted Tunisian authorities to invest in renewable energies as a way of achieving sustainable development, as well as saving on expensive petrol imports.
During the 2009-2014 period, Tunisia aims to increase fivefold its production of renewable energies to reach 550 megawatts.
The country also aims at building 5000 solar homes by 2014.Plans are also a foot to increase the share of gas use to more than 60% by 2014.
Since 1985, Tunisia has started putting up together an institutional frame involving among other initiatives, the creation of a national agency for the rationalization of energy (ANME), as well as the national agency for renewable energies (ANER).
Recently, the government has launched a four year plan (2008-2011) aiming at setting up 740,000 square meters of solar captors. According to the Ministry of industry, energy, and small and medium enterprises, the program aims at reducing current energy consumption by 20% by 2011, the equivalent of 2 million tons of petrol equivalent.
It also plans to generate 13% of the country’s electricity from renewable energies.
Moreover, since 2005, attractive incentives are given to households wishing to acquire solar water heaters as part of the PROSOL project, which aims at setting up 300,000 square meters of solar captors between 2005 and 2009.
Tunisia is to build at least two wind farms in Métline and Kérchabta in the far north of the country, which aim of producing about 400,000 MWh of renewable electricity annually. 