Japan’s First National Project for Overseas Solar Thermal Power Generation

Agreement to conduct a joint solar thermal power project with Tunisia

Mr. Tadahiro Matsushita, Senior Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Mr. Mohamed Nouri Jouini, Tunisian Minister of Development and International Cooperation, agreed during their meeting that both countries would conduct a joint project for solar thermal power generation in Tunisia. This project will be the first national solar thermal power project for Japan in 36 years since the Sunshine Project and the first ever project of this kind that takes place outside Japan.

1. On Friday, July 23, 2010, Senior Vice Minister Matsushita met with Tunisian Development and International Cooperation Minister Jouini in Tunis and announced a joint statement on a bilateral project.

2. The focus of this project is on integrated solar combined cycle (ISCC) technology, which combines solar thermal power generation using a tower concentrating system with gas combined cycle power generation. It is positioned as part of the Tunisia Solar Plan*1 promoted by the Tunisian government.

3. To support the overseas application of outstanding Japanese technologies and help such technologies secure a beachhead in overseas markets, the government will carry out this project as a public-private demonstration project led by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). It will be the first national solar thermal power project for Japan in 36 years since the Sunshine Project*2 and the first ever project of this kind that takes place outside Japan.

4. The project is expected to serve a symbol of the partnership between Japan and the Arab region at the second Japan-Arab Economic Forum*3 to be held in Tunisia in December this year. The government will support the project in the hope of evolving it to a commercialization project and further disseminating relevant technologies.

*1: Tunisia’s program for introducing renewable energy from 2010 to 2016. It consists of 40 projects mainly focusing on the use of solar energy.

*2: Japan’s program for developing and introducing alternative energy sources to oil, such as solar energy, which ran from 1974 to 2000.

*3: Japan and Arab countries held the first meeting of the Forum in December 2009 in Tokyo with the aim of deepening mutual partnership by promoting business and strengthening economic relations between the two sides. The meeting was attended by about 1,200 people, mainly government officials and business figures.

Project outline (planned)

– Concentrating solar thermal power plant: 5 MW

– Gas combined cycle power plant: 39 MW

Tags: alternative energy, alternative energy sources, combined cycle power, combined cycle power plant, development organization, industrial technology development, japan, japan solar thermal, overseas markets, private demonstration, solar thermal mag, solar thermal power, solar thermal power plant, SOLARTHERMAL, solarthermalmag, thermal power generation, tower solar thermal, tunisa solar thermal, tunisian government, use of solar energy

Short URL: https://www.solarthermalmagazine.com/?p=5708