French renewable energy group EDF Energies Nouvelles commissioned a 50.1 MW PV power plant in the Negev desert, Israel. The company now operates 11 solar power facilities in the country, with the total installed capacity of 160 MW.
EDFs new Zmorot solar power plant is the largest among its PV projects in Israel. It is also the largest in the country to date, according to the local media.
The PV facility in the Negev desert is comprised of 200,000 solar panels supplied by the EDFs subsidiary Photowatt and installed across the area of 60 hectares. According to the developer, Zmorot PV plant generates enough electricity to cover the annual power needs of around 30,000 households. The generated power will be sold to Israel Electric Corporation for the next 20 years.
The official inauguration ceremony featuring French PM Manuel Valls and Israeli Environmental Protection Minister Avi Gabbay took place yesterday. Manuel Valls described the new facility as a political project, a project that shows us a way for the future of renewable energy, The Jerusalem Post reports.
Speaking at the ceremony, Avi Gabbay reminded that Israel is aiming to increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix up to 17% by 2030. To date, this number stands at 2.6%.
Local news report that at the seremony the head of EDF Antoine Cahuzac revealed the companys plans to build more solar fields in Israel, some of them are already awaiting approval from the Energy Ministry.
Also, according to CEO of EDF Israel Ayaon Vaniche, the French company is working together with Israeli battery start-up EnStorage on pilot projects in France and Israel.
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