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Shortlisted bidders go forward in Lebanon’s 180 MW, 12-plant tender

A request for proposals to build 12 solar farms in Lebanon saw the country’s Ministry of Energy and Water receive 42 submissions.

Of those, the ministry has qualified 28 applicants for the next stage of a tender for 180 MW of PV generation capacity.

With the request for proposals attracting interest from developers based in 20 countries – and including Germany’s ib vogt and Kaco New Energy, Chinese player Trina Solar and India’s Vikram Solar – the ministry this week shortlisted 28 companies.

A national committee has started ‘technical and capability scoring’ of the applicants with an international consultant.

Solar achievements

Lebanon’s installed PV capacity of around 40 MW comprises primarily small, decentralized systems and the nation has a modest 2020 National Renewable Energy Action Plan target of 100 MW of installed capacity.

However, the government recently announced a new ambition calling for 30% of the nation’s electricity and heat in 2030 to come from renewable energy. The target for 2020 is 12%.

Despite the raised ambition, though, tenders tend to drag in Lebanon. For example, a procurement exercise held for three, 100 MW solar plants plus storage which attracted applications from 75 businesses is progressing sluggishly.

There have also been minor tenders which pv magazine has reported on.

The Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation this week said the momentum for sustainable energy in Lebanon is being supported by international institutions including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Renewable Energy Agency, the World Bank and Italy’s Ministry for Environment, Land, and Sea.

Source: pv magazine