Actual situation and criticism of the solar energy strategy and policy in Algeria.

The problem of electricity is still the biggest one in Algeria. This leads to many issues in the health and economic public or private sectors. In the north of the country, 95% of the population is connected to the national electricity grid. Unfortunately, most of this population is suffering very frequent power outages. The situation in the southern region is even worse given the hard life conditions in the Algerian Sahara. Furthermore, only inhabitants of big cities are connected to the electricity grid. The dominance of fossil fuels in the production of electricity in Algeria is blatant. It amounts to more than 97% and the rest is provided by hydraulic power in spite of the great potential of renewable energy sources that have not yet been exploited. The fact that power supply is fully dependent on conventional energy sources leads the country to two main problems. On the one hand, the pollution resulting from using fossil fuels is devastating for the environment, the climate in the short run and the whole atmosphere in the long run. On the other hand, the Algerian economy is among the most oil-dependent in the world. Being so reliant on oil and natural gas makes the country vulnerable to any problem affecting oil pricing and therefore to governing international laws that apply likewise all over the world. This paper aims to focus on the current situation of the use of renewable energy, especially solar energy in Algeria. We also present the challenges facing the government and the population to develop this sector and move towards renewable and clean energies within a smooth transition. We review the energy situation in Algeria, discuss the policies and legislations that govern the energy sector, and propose solutions to pave routes toward a change of energy production, management, supply, and consumption as well as speeding up the adoption of renewable energies in Algeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]