Tunisia launches floating solar pilot at Sidi El Barrak dam

Tunisia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries has launched an in-depth study to install a pilot floating photovoltaic system at the Sidi El Barrak dam in the Béja governorate. The initiative is part of the ‘TECH-EAU’ technical cooperation project, a partnership between the Tunisian ministry and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The project, implemented by the Mediterranean Renewable Energy Center (MEDREC), aims to achieve dual objectives: generating clean electricity and reducing water loss caused by evaporation. By covering the water surface with solar panels, the system limits exposure to sun and wind, which is critical as the country faces increasing water scarcity due to climate change and rising temperatures.

The study will evaluate the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of the technology under local climatic conditions. While this stage focuses on research rather than immediate construction, the findings will determine if the floating solar solution can be scaled to other dams and hydraulic structures across Tunisia.