Installations connected to the medium and high voltage on grid (MT/HT) > 1Mw

The self-production scheme for grid-connected systems in medium and high voltage has been in place in Tunisia since 2009, under Law No. 2009-7 of February 9, 2009, concerning energy management.

This scheme was incorporated into the new regulatory framework of 2015 (Law No. 2015-12 of May 11, 2015, and Decree No. 2016-1123 of August 24, 2016), which grants self-producers the right to transport electricity produced to various consumption sites and to sell the surplus to STEG (Société Tunisienne de l’Électricité et du Gaz) within a limit of 30% of the annually produced electricity, through a tariff set by the decision of the Minister of Energy of June 1, 2014.

As of December 2022, the ministry had granted 300 agreements for the installation of photovoltaic systems with a cumulative power of 60MW.

Despite this, the achievements for grid-connected MV/HV projects still fall short of the target set by the 2017-2020 program, which is 210MW, including 130MW in PV and 80MW in wind power. For this reason, the government has proposed new reforms, under Law No. 2019-47 on improving the investment climate (Articles 7 and 8), allowing the possibility of creating a self-production company dedicated to the production and sale of electricity from RES (Renewable Energy Sources) to one or more self-consumers, each with a subscribed power above a threshold set by order of the minister in charge of energy. The implementing decree of this new provision was published on February 25, 2020 (Decree No. 2020-105 amending and supplementing Decree No. 2016-1123 of August 24, 2016).

This new scheme was created under the cross-cutting Law No. 2019-47 (Article 7), giving self-producers the possibility to create project companies and partner with developers to produce and sell them electricity from renewable energies. The implementing texts are being developed: a draft contract for the transport and sale of surpluses has been prepared and was subject to public consultation in October 2022. The medium-voltage grid transport tariff will also be defined after the transport contract is approved by ministerial order.

Self-generation is a major axis in Tunisian energy transition policy and contributes to the diversification of the energy mix. Self-generation is destined to play an important role in achieving the objectives of power generation from renewable energy sources.

Electricity self-generation is possible for any local authority and public or private establishment that is connected to the national electricity network at Medium or High Voltage (MT-HT). This is mainly relevant for organizations active in the industrial, agricultural or service sectors. Any such bodies may file a request with the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Energy Transition (Ministère de l’Énergie des Mines et de la Transition Énergétique) to install the equipment necessary for MT-HT self-generation. This will need to be approved by an agreement with the Ministry.

The self-generation programme allows for the use of two options:

• On-site projects, without transmission of electricity through the grid
• Projects on remote sites, with electricity transmission through the grid

Projects without Transmission through the Grid

This type of project allows participating bodies to install their power generation unit directly on the premises of their activities. Since the power generated is consumed on site, such installations form a closed circuit, and transmission through the national grid is not required. Nevertheless, excess generation can usually be fed into the grid.

Excess power generation fed into the grid from the renewable generator, is recorded and invoiced monthly by STEG (Société Tunisienne de l’Électricité et du Gaz). The contractual relations between the self-generator and STEG are defined in the contract, “For the transmission of electrical energy produced from renewable energy installations connected to the HT-MT network and purchase of the surplus by STEG.” This surplus purchase contract is valid for a period of 20 years, after which, it is automatically renewable for subsequent periods of 1 year, unless terminated by either one of the parties.

Projects with Transmission through the Grid

This type of project allows the self-generator to install her or his production unit on a remote site, far from that of his primary activity.

The transmission of electricity from the point of generation to the point of consumption must necessarily pass along the national grid. Any surpluses generated but not consumed by the project, are fed directly into the grid.

Such surpluses are invoiced monthly by STEG as the sum of the current fed into the network over each hourly segment, multiplied by the tariff for the corresponding segment.

The terms and conditions for pricing surpluses are similar to those for self-generation without transmission. However, in the case of a project with electricity transmission, the transmission of electricity from the place of generation to the place of consumption is also taken into account, and the generator is invoiced by STEG for the use of its network. Charges on this tariff however, will only apply to the amount of electricity consumed by the generator – not to any surplus.

• Who can launch a project?
  Any company (public, private, or local) connected to the national high or medium voltage electricity grid can produce electricity from renewable energy sources for its own consumption.
• Surplus sales conditions:
  Companies can sell up to 30% of their annual surplus production exclusively to the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company (STEG).

The financial mechanism proposed within this program includes a grant from the Energy Transition Fund (ETF), in accordance with Government Decree No. 2017-983 of July 26, 2017. This decree defines the rules of organization, operation, and intervention modalities of the ETF.

Les Primes

1. 1. 1. Financing intangible investments

         Feasibility studies: a grant not exceeding 70% of the cost with a ceiling of thirty thousand dinars (30,000D) per establishment.	70% 30KDT
         Assistance and support actions: a grant not exceeding 70% of the cost of the actions with a ceiling of seventy thousand dinars (70,000 D) for each establishment.	70% 70KDT

      2. Financing of tangible investments

         For all other material investments: a grant not exceeding 20% of the investment cost, with a ceiling of two hundred thousand dinars (200,000 DT).

         20% 200KDT