High Penetration of Solar Energy to the Algerian Electricity System in the Context of an Energy Roadmap Toward a Sustainable Energy Paradigm by 2030

Since 1971 to the present day, the energy sector has been the essential vector of Algeria’s economic development model through the supply of raw materials to industries, the supply of domestic energy consumption, and export earnings. However, the fall in the price of oil and gas since 2014 has shown the fragility of this development model based on the revenue from hydrocarbons. In addition, this shock has greatly increased the medium- and long-term uncertainties in terms of the country’s energy security. Since 2008, the Algerian domestic energy market has experienced significant growth, putting pressure on export capacities. In addition, environmental pressures are growing. Algeria’s solar potential is among the largest in the world with more than 2.4 million km2 of the country receiving sunshine of the order of 2,500 kWh/m²/year ( www.cder.dz ). Algeria is committed to the axis of renewable energies (RE) in order to provide significant and sustainable solutions to environmental challenges and problems of preservation of fossil energy resources through the establishment of a favorable legal status, adequate and a national fund for energy management. The national renewable energy potential is based mainly on solar energy, Algeria considers this energy as a pillar of economic and social development, in particular through the establishment of industries that create wealth and jobs. Algeria’s strategy in this area aims to develop a real renewable energy industry associated with a training and knowledge capitalization program, which will eventually allow employees to employ local Algerian engineers, particularly in the field of engineering and project management. The EnR program, for the electrification of the national market, will allow the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs. The preparation of this article is therefore perfectly in line with the vision of the government action plan for the implementation of the President’s program, which gives an important place to the energy transition according to “The triptych of economic renewal based on food security, energy security and transition and the digital economy.”