What characterized CDER’s activities in 2018: from precursor to accelerator of renewable energy development in Algeria
Just like in recent years, the Renewable Energy Development Center (CDER) continues to strengthen its performance in scientific research and innovation (R&I), evolving from a pioneering center in the development of renewable energies in Algeria into a true accelerator for the widespread adoption of renewables across all sectors. This progress is driven by its qualified human resources, trained in various forms of renewable energy (photovoltaic solar, solar thermal, geothermal, wind, bioenergy, hydrogen, etc.), and by its over 50 years of experience in scientific research and technological development in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency. As a result, CDER has established itself as a leading institution in implementing the national policy on renewable energy and energy efficiency.
The results for 2018 are highly satisfactory with respect to globally recognized indicators of excellence in R&I. This remarkable progress is reflected in the following key figures: 183 publications indexed in the Scopus database, 10 invention patents, 18 partnership agreements with socio-economic sectors including those signed with the Ministry of the Interior, Local Authorities, and Regional Planning as part of technical support for the implementation of renewable energy projects at the local authority level and 26 prototypes developed across various areas of renewable energy application.
CDER is actively engaged in events (trade shows, fairs, and other professional gatherings) that contribute to the promotion of renewable energies in Algeria. In total, there were 273 participations in scientific events at both national and international levels, including scientific conferences, seminars, study days, thematic workshops, and various national meetings, such as the Government-Walis meeting, among others. Furthermore, an International Conference on Wind Energy and its Applications and another on the Development of Renewable and New Energy were organized by CDER this year, in Algiers and Ghardaïa, respectively.
In 2018, CDER also contributed to various initiatives in support of entrepreneurship, environmental protection, eco-citizenship, and sustainable development. The first initiative focused on promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship and the creation of start-ups in renewable energy among young university graduates through the organization of the "DZ Clean Energy Challenge Days," which saw strong participation from youth with innovative ideas.
The second initiative was carried out for the benefit of the Algerian Muslim Scouts, as CDER organized the Scout Olympiads in the field of renewable energies, featuring a competition involving girls (Zaharat) around the age of 10 from various Wilayas across the country. The third initiative, as in previous years, involved CDER’s participation in the global “Earth Hour” event an hour dedicated to the planetorganized by the Sidra Association.
The results of 2018 are also marked by the signing of several national and international scientific and technical cooperation agreements, including one with the Korean Institute of Electronic Technologies, signed in the presence of the Prime Ministers of Algeria and South Korea. Actions to raise awareness and promote renewable energies and energy efficiency, as well as the organization and participation in various events including the National Research Products Exhibition are also highlighted in this year’s report.
In terms of human resources, the year 2018 recorded 31 doctoral defenses, 21 university accreditations, and 1 promotion to the rank of research director.
EPST CDER researchers also contributed to the national training effort in the field of renewable energies, supervising 215 students at the licence’s and master’s levels, 53 at the doctoral level, and 40 socio-professionals.
CDER provided training and hosted several seminars for executives from various sectors to strengthen their capacities in the field of renewable energies.
In 2018, CDER continued to consolidate its quality infrastructure, making significant progress in the solar water heater testing laboratory, the photovoltaic solar panel testing laboratory, and the pyranometer calibration laboratory, with the goal of accrediting them to the ISO 17025 standard.
In terms of deploying renewables on the ground, CDER, through its subsidiary ER2 (Studies and Realizations in Renewable Energies), has carried out several projects across various Wilayas of the country, including the solarization of schools and solar public lighting.
The excellence of the research conducted by CDER researchers and its units recognized nationally, regionally, and internationally along with the strong presence of its activities in the field, reinforces CDER’s position as an accelerator in the emergence of renewable energies by combining its scientific and technological expertise with its understanding of field constraints and the specificities of Algeria’s climate and territories.
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