Performance of photovoltaic solar system in Algeria

The economic and social development in Algeria these last years has been needed a continues increasing in demand of electricity, especially in the isolate countryside. Large parts of the electric demand are in the Sahara areas (~80% of the total surface). These regions are characterized by a dispersed population, a very hot climate of strong radiations (~7 kw h/m2/day) and a low consumption of energy. The use of the conventional energy sources is very costs and the extension of electric networks finds enormous problems. The solar energy is adapted for this area and has been satisfactory results promote results for the future. A national program was establish since several years for the photovoltaic solar system installation in order to satisfy the domestic needs in electricity for a lot of villages, pumping of water and other economic activities (rural electrification of 20 village of 1000 habitation has been lanced in 2000). This system photovoltaic meeting many problems of adaptation and to be reliable and competitive (optimizes their cost), studies of their performance are necessary permitting to see the behavior and adaptation in conditions of sites as well as the climatic and social condition effect on the working and the profitability for a long time.