50 MWac Photovoltaic Solar Power Plant with a 20 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and Associated High-Voltage Grid Infrastructure at Beni M'Hira, Tunisia
01Project Overview
02Project Background
According to the EBRD's published project summary, the project consists of a senior loan of up to EUR 30 million to Societe Tunisienne de l'Electricite et du Gaz (STEG) to finance the construction and development of a 50 MWac photovoltaic solar power plant, a 20 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and associated high-voltage transmission infrastructure at Beni M'Hira, in the Tataouine Governorate of southern Tunisia, integrating the project into the Tunisian electricity grid. The project also benefits from a senior loan of up to EUR 20 million from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF). EBRD project ID 56916, status Approved, approval date 22 July 2026, environmental category B.
The EBRD states that the project's BESS workstream will be the first investment in a BESS within Tunisia, and will help unlock Tunisia's renewable energy potential by addressing the intermittency of renewable energy, a key obstacle to the deployment of additional renewables. The quantifiable benefits include increased Tunisian energy production from the additional 50 MWac of capacity added to the grid, as well as reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The unquantifiable benefits include stabilising the grid and removing the first-mover externality risk associated with the novel BESS technology. The project is on the Green Economy Transition (GET) Direct Track, with a transition impact score of 73.
This procurement is the works package of the project. It is issued by STEG as client through the EBRD Client e-Procurement Portal (ECEPP). Contracts are subject to the EBRD Procurement Policies and Rules and are open for participation to firms from any country, unless otherwise specified in the procurement documents.
03Scope of Work & Technical Specifications
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Contract Scope | Design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of a 50 MWac photovoltaic solar power plant, a 20 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and associated high-voltage transmission infrastructure |
| Site | Beni M'Hira, Tataouine Governorate, southern Tunisia |
| Generation Capacity | 50 MWac |
| Storage Capacity | 20 MWh |
| Grid Connection | Associated high-voltage transmission infrastructure to integrate the project into the Tunisian electricity grid |
| Procurement Category | Works |
| Governing Rules | The EBRD Procurement Policies and Rules; the documentation includes detailed technical and financial requirements, lots, eligibility and qualification requirements, contract start date and planned duration |
| Detailed Requirements | Technical specifications, equipment lists, grid connection requirements and quantities are set out in the procurement documents, which are available free of charge in ECEPP; unregistered firms may access them after completing a brief registration |
04Commercial Terms
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Financing and Payment | The project is financed by an EBRD senior loan together with a CTF senior loan, with payments made at the milestones set out in the contract |
| Contract Form | Contracts of this kind, covering a solar plant, a storage system and grid connection works, are usually awarded on a lump-sum basis, with the price covering design, equipment, civil works, installation, commissioning and grid connection |
| Advance and Progress Payments | Comparable contracts commonly provide a percentage advance payment, with the balance paid in instalments upon delivery of major equipment, completion of installation, commissioning and grid connection |
| Performance Security | Comparable works contracts usually require a performance security of a percentage of the contract price, together with a warranty security |
| Insurance | The contractor is commonly required to take out transport insurance, erection all risks insurance and third party liability insurance, and to comply with the project's environmental and social documentation |
| Warranty and Defects Liability | For comparable projects the warranty period commonly runs from acceptance of the grid connection, and equipment and workmanship defects during the defects liability period are rectified by the contractor at no cost |
05Bidder Qualification Requirements
06Key Milestones
07Evaluation Criteria
- The common approach is to evaluate the technical configuration of the solar plant, the technical solution for the storage system and grid connection works, the construction and commissioning organisation, and key personnel qualifications and comparable experience
- The technical evaluation is usually pass or fail; bids not meeting the technical requirements in the procurement documents do not proceed to price comparison
- The common approach is to compare price levels among technically compliant bids, with the price score usually derived from a ranking of prices from lowest to highest
- The technical and proposal score and the price score are then combined into an overall score
