*2.2. Other Renewable Energy Potential*

Algeria has a considerable average of wind speed that can reach 6 m/s in approximately 50% of the country's surface. The government plans to promote this energy source. Hydroelectricity potential is modest and has little benefit to the Algerian economy. For geothermal energy, the Renewable Energy Development Centre listed more than 200 hot springs, thereby presenting a favourable outlook to exploit this resource [48]. Finally, the biomass potential in Algeria is considerable. It reaches 5 Mtoe/year, but it is still not consumed. This source of energy offers great promises and should be enhanced [51].

#### *2.3. Algerian Renewable Energy Program*

Currently, Algeria focuses on the production of electrical energy from renewable sources, especially on solar energy and grid-connected photovoltaic power plants, for a capacity of several megawatts to reduce its dependence on oil rents, thereby representing approximately 96% of export and 17.36% of GDP in 2014 [52]. It also aims to reduce the use of diesel generators, which is the dominant energy source in rural and Saharan regions in Algeria [46].

The development of green energy sources is a key priority for the Algerian government. Nowadays, enhancing the exploitation of renewable energy is a necessity to decrease the amount of CO2 emissions, considering that Algeria has shown great interest in signing the historic Paris agreement in 2015 [53]. Furthermore, with such a measure, the government can save conventional resources, which are used to generate electricity. The renewable sources showed a poor share in the total energy compared with the conventional sources [54]. The residential electricity sector reached approximately 42% of the total energy consumption [55]. However, the ambitious national renewable energy program allowed one to reach 27% of renewable energy in the national energy mix [56].

Renewable energy sources are the focus of the 2011–2030 development program adopted by the Algerian government to achieve the installation of 22,000 MW of renewables by 2030, including 10,000 MW for export and 12,000 MW for meeting the national market demand [57]. Notably, photovoltaic energy is the dominant renewable source and is expected to reach a capacity of 13,575 MW, representing 62% of the total power installation, as shown in Table 2. In this ambitious program, the government strategy focuses on the development of photovoltaics on a large scale and prepares for the future of Algeria. The adopted program includes the development of wind and CSP energy, biomass, cogeneration and geothermal sources.


