The Office of the Commissioner for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CEREFE) has just published its 4th review of achievements in renewable energy in Algeria, covering the years 2020 to 2023. The report takes stock of the progress made in the renewable energy sector, particularly in the areas of sectoral deployment, the development of the industrial fabric and services, and the cultivation of skilled human capital.
According to the report, Algeria’s renewable energy capacity reached 600.9 MW by the end of December 2023, including 472 MW excluding hydroelectricity. This figure also includes 47.85 MW of off-grid capacity. The CEREFE highlighted a significant increase in solar photovoltaic (PV) installations over the past three years, with solar kits contributing 23.06 MW, which now makes up nearly half (48.2%) of off-grid solar PV installations. The installation of photovoltaic solar power plants, such as the Ghar Djebilet project, is expected to push the cumulative installed renewable energy capacity beyond 4,000 MW.
The report also emphasized the sector’s growing dynamism, noting the emergence of a “sizeable” number of design offices and solar energy system installation companies. Citing figures from the Ministry of Industry and Pharmaceutical Production, the review noted that by the end of 2023, Algeria had six photovoltaic module assembly and encapsulation plants, with an annual production capacity of 469 MWc. Additionally, there has been a “quality leap” in vocational education and training degrees in renewable energy, with 2,351 students and trainees graduating between 2020 and 2023, including 1,222 in the 2022-2023 academic year.
