China Builds 300 MW Sahara Solar Plant for Algeria’s 15 GW Plan

China is Building a 300 MW Solar Power Plant in Algeria’s Sahara Desert as Part of a 15 GW Clean Energy Plan

China is developing the 300-megawatt (MW) El Oued Foullia Solar PV Park in Algeria’s Sahara Desert. The project is located in El Oued Province, one of the world’s sunniest regions. It will harness abundant solar energy to generate clean electricity and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

The solar plant is being developed through a partnership between Algeria’s renewable energy company SHAEMS and China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC). The two sides signed the contract in March 2024 under Algeria’s Solar 1000 MW program. CSCEC also secured a separate 200 MW solar project in nearby El Meghaier.

The El Oued Foullia project will be built as a ground-mounted photovoltaic power station. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with commercial operation planned for 2028. Once completed, the plant will strengthen Algeria’s electricity grid and help meet rising energy demand.

The project forms part of Algeria’s National Renewable Energy Programme, which targets 15 gigawatts (15,000 MW) of renewable energy capacity by 2035. The government is also advancing a broader pipeline of more than 3.2 GW of solar projects to accelerate its energy transition.

Algeria’s Sahara Desert offers exceptional solar resources, with annual solar irradiation exceeding 2,500 kilowatt-hours per square meter. These ideal conditions make the country one of North Africa’s most promising locations for large-scale solar development.

The new solar projects are expected to create hundreds of construction and technical jobs while expanding local infrastructure. They also strengthen clean energy cooperation between Algeria and China by bringing engineering expertise, technology, and investment into the country’s renewable energy sector.

As one of Algeria’s largest planned solar power stations, the 300 MW El Oued Foullia project marks an important step toward a cleaner energy future. By turning the Sahara’s abundant sunshine into electricity, Algeria aims to diversify its energy mix, improve energy security, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the coming decades.

Sources:

• China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC)
• CSCER Algerie