260 MW Solar Panel Production Capacity In Algeria

• 2 separate companies are working to add 260 MW of cumulative solar PV panel production capacity annually in Algeria
• Milltech will expand its annual capacity by another 100 MW to come online by the end of 2020
• Another 160 MW is planned to come up in Ouargla, according to the report by Afrik21

Algeria is awaiting the completion of 260 MW solar PV panel production capacity. The North African country has currently 2 separate module production projects with 100 MW and 160 MW capacity under construction, according to the 1^st annual report of the Commissariat aux énergies renouvelables et à l'efficacité énergétique or the Commission for Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency (Cerefe).

African energy news portal Afrik21 reported that Milltech is constructing a solar PV panel production fab in Boukherana near Chelghoum El Aid with an annual capacity of 100 MW. It is likely to be commissioned before the end of 2020.

Milltech is currently producing 100 MW panels annually and is now doubling the capacity in 2021. It plans to capture the domestic solar PV market in the country as well as export its products. According to the company's July 2020 PV strategy shared on LinkedIn, it will add 2 equipments to exceed 500 MW annual production capacity by 2022.

The company produces 60 cell and 72 cell poly and mono PERC modules, glass-glass and bifacial technologies with a maximum output of 390W. Come Q1/2021, and it will be rolling out half cut cells as well. Milltech COO Mohamed Hammoud said his company can make OEM products as well.

The other factory the report mentions is planned to come up in Ouargla with an estimated capacity of 160 MW of solar panel production annually.

Afrik21 also mentions another factory being developed in the country by Système Panneaux Sandwichs (SPS) and QiEnergy of Dubai that will produce solar panel assembly structures for Algerian and African markets.

In May 2020, Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad said his government aims to have 4 GW of installed solar PV capacity in the country by 2024 to meet increasing demand for electricity.