EDF commissions Israel’s largest solar project
Ketura Solar park has been jointly commissioned by EDF Énergies Nouvelles Israel and Arava Power
EDF has commissioned Israel’s largest solar power project and the move could signal the beginning of a significant solar power boom across the country.
The Ketura Solar park has been jointly commissioned by EDF Énergies Nouvelles Israel and Arava Power.
Planning and development for the 40 MW solar power plant began in 2009 but the developers secured financial closure in 2013.
The $79 million project was completed after 7 months of construction.
EDF and Arava Power are working on a second solar PV project in Israel which is will have installed capacity of about 50 MW.
The project is expected to be commissioned soon, the companies reported.
The two projects are among the 9 solar photovoltaic projects in Israel which were given licenses in 2012, which will have a total installed capacity of 385 MW.
The Public Utility Authority has issued a further 50 licenses for smaller solar power 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 energy mix to 10 per cent by 2020 and the government has approved several solar thermal power projects with the aim of achieving the target.
