Tunisian homes get electricity for the first time - from solar

Here’s an interesting little development from Tunisia, courtesy of the folks of Kyocera. It seems that solar power is not just doing its thing and getting rid of other carbon-heavy electricity generation, it’s also bringing people onto the grid who have never had electricity before.

From this year, 500 households in Tunisian villages, currently without electricity of any sort, will get solar systems to power home lighting and “other needs”. The homes will be located in Kef, Siliana and Beja.

Here’s more from Kyocera.

“Kyocera Corporation today announced that it will supply and install its solar power generating systems in the Republic of Tunisia under a yen-loan project by the Japanese government through Itochu Corporation.

This will be the first case in which yen loans will be applied to the delivery and installation of photovoltaic power systems. Yen loans are a form of official development assistance provided by the Japanese government.

They are a mechanism for lending development funds to developing countries at low interest on a long-term basis. Yen loans are designed to help developing countries stand on their own economically as they strive to become self-reliant.
Special Terms for Economic Partnership will also be applied to this project for putting Japanese technologies to practical use.

Through the project, Japan’s solar power generating technologies are expected not only to contribute to the economic development of developing countries, but also to lead to technological assistance that is environmentally friendly.”