Tender Announced for Expansion of 'Beirut River Solar Snake,' to Connect with EDL Grid

Caretaker Energy and Water Minister Walid Fayad has announced a call for tenders through the public procurement authority platform for the construction of an eight-megawatt solar photovoltaic power station.

The new facility, set to be located along the Beirut River, will expand upon the existing 'Beirut River Solar Snake' (BRSS) project. Initially commissioned by the Energy Ministry in 2015, the BRSS project was designed with a capacity of one megawatt.

The original BRSS project, awarded in 2013 to a consortium of five companies—including Lebanese firms Asaco, Phoenix, Dalal Steel Industries, and Derviche Haddad PPB Structures—aimed to reach a total capacity of 10 megawatts. However, it fell short of this goal, achieving only 300 meters of its planned 6.5 kilometers of coverage.

“The expanded solar farm will be financed through the Energy Ministry’s budget and will be integrated into the Electricité du Liban (EDL) grid,” Fayad stated in a ministry press release. The initial BRSS project required an investment of $4 million in 2015.

This initiative is part of a broader effort by the ministry to enhance Lebanon’s solar energy sector. Recently, the ministry completed the “National Renewable Energy Plan” for 2024-2030, which aims to increase Lebanon's share of renewable energy from the current 20 percent to over 30 percent. This increase is driven by private sector initiatives in response to severe electricity shortages that have affected the country since 2021.

In May 2023, Fayad also signed agreements with 11 consortia to develop a total of 165 megawatts of solar energy across Lebanon.

The ministry invites companies specializing in renewable and solar energy to participate in this new project. The bidding period will run from September 11 to October 23, 2024, with the project expected to be completed within 12 months.