RETRACTED: Experiences in renewable energy and energy efficiency in Tunisia: Case study of a developing country (Retracted Article)

Tunisia is one of the few developing countries to have developed a proactive policy for the promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency already in the mid-1980s. This policy gained special momentum starting in the mid-2000s, in the context of spiraling international oil prices and the development of a steadily growing energy deficit. This momentum resulted in the development of ambitious energy efficiency and renewable energy development programs, designed to meet energy requirements in a cost-effective manner and to reduce the Tunisian economy's vulnerability to rising fossil fuel prices. The three-year (2005-2007) and four-year (2008-2011) programs as well as the Tunisian solar plan are strong indicators of Tunisia's commitment to a genuine, large-scale sustainable energy policy. They represent a framework for development and investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency in Tunisia. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.