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Luxembourg Issues 40 MW Solar PV Tender

Luxembourg’s Energy Minister Claude Turmes (in the middle) at the launch event for a 40 MW PV tender said solar power was an underexploited resource in his country even though it offers a lot of scope. Between 2008 and 2018, it grew by 533% to 131 MW. (Photo Credit: Ministry of Energy and Spatial Planning, Luxembourg)

Anu Bhambhani
  • Claude Turmes, Luxembourg's energy minister has announced a solar PV tender for 40 MW of cumulative capacity
  • The 40 MW capacity needs to be developed in five lots each with a ceiling tariff ranging between €89 to €145 per MWh
  • Bid submissions can be made till March 16, 2020 and winners will be announced by May 2020

The Minister of Energy and Spatial Planning in Luxembourg, Claude Turmes has launched a tender for 40 MW of cumulative solar PV capacity in the European country. Interested bidders can take up construction and operation of the capacity; the winners will be signed up for a 15-year contract.

The capacity can be developed in five lots each with a ceiling tariff as mentioned below:

  1. Lot 1: Industrial land (500 kW and 5 MW); maximum 10 MW @ €89 per MWh
  2. Lot 2: Buildings (200 kW and 500 kW); maximum 10 MW @ €120 per MWh
  3. Lot 3: Buildings (500 kW and 5 MW); maximum 10 MW @ €115 per MWh
  4. Lot 4: Shelters or water bodies (200 kW and 500 kW); maximum 5 MW @ €145 per MWh
  5. Lot 5: Shelters or water bodies (500 kW and 5 MW); maximum 5 MW @ €140 per MWh

Last date to submit bids is March 16, 2020; winners will be selected by May 2020. The winning capacity needs to be operational by November 2020. Details are available on the ministry's website.

According to Turmes, who was for years a leading voice of the European Green Party Group in the EU Parliament before he was appointed minister in his country last year, Luxembourg's PV potential is still underexploited. Between 2008 and 2018, the small country with only 590,000 inhabitants, has seen an increase of 533% in PV capacity – from 28.56 MW to 131 MW with close to 7,000 systems installed. It ranks 6th in the European Union for its PV installed capacity per capita, said Turmes. But a February 2019 report by the statistical office of the EU counted the country among those that are farthest from their 2020 renewable energy target by several percentage points (see 2020 RE Target Achieved By 11 EU Nations).

Luxembourg aims to have 11% renewable energy share in its total energy mix by 2020.