Algeria’s environment faces mounting pressure from climate-change, forest fires, desertification and a legacy of hydrocarbon dependency and its pollution —yet the country is also emerging as a compelling frontier for cleantech and green-economy investment. Stretching from the Mediterranean coast to the Sahara, Algeria confronts rising water stress, soil erosion, air-quality concerns and ecosystem degradation. Its decades-long fight against desertification—such as through programs like the “Green Dam” barrier across the pre-Saharan steppe—underscores that land and water security are no longer just ecological concerns.
Béjaïa, Algeria
At the same time, Algeria is seeking to shift its economic track. With over 3,000 annual sunshine hours in its southern zones and strong wind-potential, the country holds untapped renewable-energy resources. Recent strategy documents describe plans to scale up solar-PV, wind and green-hydrogen production for both domestic use and export. The government’s accession to the Global Green Growth Institute in 2025 further signals official commitment to green growth, water security and sustainable land-use.
This Stunning Ancient Citadel in the Sahara Desert Has a Mysterious Past
For cleantech investors and green-economy players, Algeria presents several promising opportunities: large-scale solar and wind farms, green-hydrogen export infrastructure, water-desalination and recycling projects, circular-economy programmes (especially in waste and sustainable consumption), and smart-grid/energy-efficiency solutions. But successful participation requires navigating structural challenges: regulatory clarity is still evolving, there are high levels of government corruption, technology-transfer and local capacity remain barriers, and financial frameworks for clean-investment need strengthening.
While its environmental challenges are real and significant, its green-economy potential is equally formidable—offering early-mover advantage for cleantech and sustainability investment aimed at North Africa.
Finally poised to embrace renewable energy generation, little-known Algeria is accepting tender bids from solar and wind energy producers. Along with Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, which are either in the process of or are planning to build solar plants in their home countries, Algeria supports the Desertec Foundation vision to line the Sahara with solar thermal […]
Toni Polo, founder of Radio Groovalizacion explains how music and migration are shaping contemporary culture in the Middle East and North Arfica. As an avid “world music” listener – although I don’t like this term but I still haven’t found a better one- it is always an immense pleasure to discover hidden musical gems. One organization […]
Middle Eastern olive oil producers are baring the brunt of falling oil prices Olive oil prices have hit a 10 year low, severely impacting producers in Spain, Italy , Greece and Protugal- which produce more than 60 percent of the world’s olive oil. However, Middle Eastern Farmers in Tunisia, Morocco, Syria, Libya, Israel and Palestine will […]
Morocco’s zero-carbon car factory opening earlier this month, via NY Times. The CEO of Renault–Nissan alliance Carlos Ghosn and Moroccan King Mohammed VI inaugerated French automaker’s one-billion-euro plant in Tangier which is set to boost Morocco’s automobile industry.The plant will build several new ‘low cost’ vehicles with an annual capacity that could reach ups 400,000 […]
The 6th electro, automation & energy event in Algiers is happening May 5 to 8. Interested in knowing more about renewable energy opportunities in North Africa and the Arab world? Then head to Algeria this May to meet a high profile group of decision makers and companies targeting the growing Algerian energy sector. In step […]
A Red Notice was sent through Interpol accusing this man of selling rotten potatoes to Algeria. image via Vancouver Sun First of all, a Canadian man named Henk Tepper was accused by Algerian officials of selling rotten potatoes. Rather than take it up with him in a civil court, they issued a “Red Notice” through […]
In just six hours, the deserts receive more energy from the sun than humankind produces in a year, and Desertec is harnessing it. Right now hundreds of people are gathered at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland making the same kind of noises about the security of our future as the suits at COP […]
We have listed 6 big and small solar-powered projects in the MENA region that have inspired us in the hopes that it will do the same for you. Big or small, solar-powered projects in the Middle East and North Africa are transforming our region. Not only do they hold promise of slowly improving air quality […]
Algiers will be the place to be for utility-scale solar developers next May. The German trade fair specialists Messe and their Algerian daughter company in Algiers will hold a solar trade fair at the Palais des Expositions d'Alger from 7 to 10 May, 2012. As one of three North African desert nations now at the forefront of responsible climate legislation, through its ambitious solar plans and its participation in the visionary Desertec project, Algeria is ideally situated to host the event.
Desertec takes third step to reality in as many months with Sonelgaz agreement Algeria‘s state-owned Sonelgaz has just signed the third deal in the MENA region to export desert solar power to Europe, with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cooperate with the European Desertec Initiative (DII) in the export of solar from the country, […]
CDM funding for renewable energy in emerging nations is endangered in Durban, South Africa With the increasingly likely non-renewal of the Kyoto Accord after 2012 at this week’s international climate talks at the seventeenth Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Convention on Climate Change in Durban, South Africa, renewable energy project funding throughout […]
Egypt now leads all the MENA nations in attractiveness for renewable energy investment through the EU's Clean Development Mechanism and Morocco - which already has a grid linked up to Europe - has become a key Desertec investment point since announcing its plans to provide 42% of its own electricity from solar, which is by far the most ambitious plan in the world. What's more, as a kingdom, there is no opposition party to sabotage renewable energy as the Republican party does in the US.
Energy subsidies keeping petrol and electricity prices low in the Middle East are jeopardizing the chances of renewable energy projects The Middle East may be unique for many reason- the stunning souks, the hospitality of the people and explosive political mentality- but they are probably known for just one thing: oil. Indeed, Gulf nations have […]
Over the last thirty years, carbon emissions in North Africa and the Middle East (MENA) have doubled with citizens in the Gulf states producing up to 10 times the amount of CO2 as the average global citizen Awareness of the dangers of climate change may be on the increase in the Middle East but action […]
This infographic by Carboun tells you everything you ever wanted to know about water and the Middle East but couldn’t be bothered to read Building on the blossoming debate on water and its complexities and Carboun’s first infographic on the carbon emissions from the region, comes this second infographic which aims to decode the water […]