AEOLUS, a Toyota Tsusho Group company, has commenced the commercial operation of two solar power plants in Tunisia with a total capacity of 100MW.

Located in the Sidi Bouzid and Tozeur governorates, the plants supply electricity to the national utility, the Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas, under a long-term agreement.

The Sidi Bouzid facility commenced operations on 1 January 2026, and the Tozeur plant on 4 March 2026.

AEOLUS holds a 49% share in the Sidi Bouzid plant, while Norwegian company Scatec owns 51%.

Developed at a total cost of approximately €79m ($92m), the solar projects secured non-recourse financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Société de Promotion et de Participation pour la Coopération Economique (Proparco).

The investment receives political risk insurance through the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, part of the World Bank Group.

Each solar facility generates 50MW, collectively producing electricity for around 120,000 Tunisian households per year.

A 30-year power purchase agreement governs the sale of all electricity generated to the national utility.

The plants will operate for an initial term of 20 years, with the option to extend for a further ten years.

The Ministry of the Environment of Japan included both plants in the Joint Crediting Mechanism Model Projects programme in 2023.

This scheme provides financial support for up to half of the initial investment to projects in developing countries that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, awarding credits to both Japan and the host country.

The initiative is carried out in partnership with the Tunisian and Japanese governments.

Scatec manages the operation of the solar power plants.