French company wins tender to build Israel’s largest solar power plant

JERUSALEM, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) — French state-owned electric utility EDF has won an Israeli government tender to build and operate the largest power plant in Israel, the finance and energy ministries announced in a joint statement on Thursday.
EDF, through its Israeli branch, secured the contract for a solar power facility in the Negev Desert near Dimona. The company stated that construction is scheduled to begin in 2026.
The new power plant will cover approximately 3 square km and use photovoltaic technology to produce about 300 megawatts of power.
The facility will add to Israel’s renewable energy infrastructure, which includes two thermo-solar power plants and two photovoltaic plants that together contribute over 300 megawatts. Another planned photovoltaic plant is expected to generate an additional 100 megawatts.
This tender is part of Israel’s strategy to meet its goal of deriving 30 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and aims to reduce pollutant emissions in line with global trends. ■