EDF Renewables has commissioned five solar photovoltaic facilities with installed capacity totaling 101MW in Israel.

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Image: EDF Renewables commissions 101MW solar facilities in Israel. Photo: Courtesy of worradmu/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

The new facilities take the total number of solar power plants operated by EDF Renewables in the country to 17, with a combined capacity of 300MW.

The newly commissioned plants, which are located in the Negev Desert, feature nearly 307,400 panels spread over close to 130 hectares.

The five solar power plants include the 60MW Mashabei Sadeh, the 14MW Pduyim, the 13MW Mefalsim, the 7MW Kfar Maimon and the 7MW Bitha.

Four of the facilities were secured in a mid-2017 tender and generate electricity at €47 per MWh, which is claimed to be the lowest-ever tariff agreed in Israel.

The Mashabei Sadeh solar power plant was acquired by the company in a separate deal in 2017 when it was at the project stage.

The new solar facilities are expected to contribute to the company’s CAP 2030 plan, under which it aims to double its worldwide renewable energy capacity between 2015 and 2030 up to 50GW.

EDF’s Renewable Energies executive vice-president and EDF Renewables chief executive officer Bruno Bensasson said: “The commissioning of these photovoltaic power plants reinforces EDF Renewables’ leading position in Israel, where we already have over 25% of the installed capacity from renewable energy sources.

“Through its CAP 2030 strategy in France and globally, EDF is delighted to contribute here to the fight against Climate change in Israel, with strong ambitions in solar, storage, and wind power.”

With a gross global installed capacity of 14.2GW, EDF Renouvelables is a major international player in renewable energies. The company mainly focuses on development of wind and solar photovoltaic power.

In September, the company secured rights to develop two wind projects in Brazil with a combined capacity of 276MW.

The two new wind projects in Brazil to be developed by EDF Renewables will be located in Bahia State and will be backed by a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).