Tunisia approves residential solar-plus-storage amid heatwave

Tunisia’s national utility, STEG, has authorized households and businesses connected to the low-voltage grid to install battery energy storage systems paired with hybrid inverters, as an unprecedented heatwave drives record electricity demand and puts increasing strain on the country’s power system.

The decision comes as the country’s electricity grid faces increasing pressure, with demand reaching record levels due to widespread air conditioning use. The strain on the network has led to recurring power outages, prompting STEG to urge consumers to reduce electricity consumption.

The authorization allows owners of PV installations to use electricity stored in batteries to supply their homes during temporary grid interruptions caused by load-shedding measures.

To ensure the safety and reliability of both customer installations and the wider electricity network, STEG has published a technical guide on its website. The document sets out the requirements and minimum specifications for the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of photovoltaic systems equipped with batteries and hybrid inverters.

The guidelines are intended for residential users, STEG’s technical teams, and certified installers involved in the deployment of these systems.

The move has been welcomed by Tunisia’s renewable energy sector. Speaking on national radio, Sadok Besbes, president of the Renewable Energy Professional Group at the Confederation of Citizen Enterprises of Tunisia (CONECT), described the decision as an important step toward expanding the use of distributed energy storage.

To support faster adoption, Besbes called on the government to introduce financial incentives for households investing in these technologies. In particular, he proposed reducing customs duties on solar modules and batteries used in photovoltaic installations.