The “Hybrid Solar-Gas Project at Hassi R’Mel” involves an EPC contract (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) and an O&M contract (Operation & Maintenance) for building an electric power station with a 150 MW combined cycle, where 25 MW of them will be generated from solar energy. The complex will be built within 33 months and the concession contract for its exploitation will be 25 years.

The Project, with conventional combined cycle, adds solar hybridization in the form of solar fields containing parabolic mirrors and ISCC technology – Integrated Solar Combined Cycle -. The electricity produced by this station will be bought by SONATRACH - an Algerian government owned company that specializes in research, exploration, production, transport, processing and distribution of oil products and derivatives of hydrocarbons -.

In order to enlarge the competitiveness of the market, attract private investment and modernise the hydrocarbons sector, the Algerian Government has implemented several structural policies to achieve energy sector reform.

It is within this framework that the “Hybrid Solar-Gas Project at Hassi R’Mel” takes part in the governmental program to promote the renewable energies. With this programme, the Algerian Government aims to increase the renewable energy production in the country to up to 5% of the total energy production by 2010.

Considered as a potential Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) facility within the framework of the Kyoto Protocol, the Project has been awarded a positive impact category due primarily to the generation of 5% of the electricity from thermo solar power.

ABENER, part of the ABENGOA Group, is the Spanish promoting company and will be the investor, manufacturer and operator of the new plant. With COFIDES as financing partner, ABENER holds a 51% stake in the project company. On the other hand, NEAL (company established by the Algerian government to encourage renewable energy) holds a 34% stake in Solar Power Plant One Lda. NEAL is planning to incorporate SONATRACH as financing partner with a 14% stake.

Established in 1994, ABENER belongs to ABEINSA, the parent company of ABENGOA’s business group for Engineering and Industrial Construction. ABENER has experience in providing integrated and innovated solutions in design, promotion, financial procurement, construction and operation of thermo solar power plants with ISCC, such as in Sevilla (Spain) or Ain Beni Mathar (Morocco), which is the biggest solar thermal ISCC plant in the world.

Organization name: COFIDES S.A
Country: Spain