San Giorgio Group Case Study: Prosol Tunisia

The Prosol program in Tunisia successfully scaled the adoption of solar water heaters (SWHs) by combining capital subsidies, concessional credit, and a strategic risk-sharing mechanism. Between 2005 and 2010, it leveraged USD 24.2 million in public funds to attract USD 110 million in private investment, installing approximately 119,000 systems. A critical success factor was the involvement of the state utility, STEG, which acted as a debt collector and guarantor, reducing credit risk for commercial banks and lowering interest rates for households. The program not only reduced CO2 emissions by 715 Kt over the systems' lifespans but also generated a net fiscal gain for the Tunisian government by reducing fossil fuel subsidy expenditures by an estimated USD 101 million over the long term.

• Between 2005 and 2010, the Prosol program mobilized USD 134 million in total investment, with public finance providing 18% (USD 24.2 million) and private investors providing 82% (USD 110 million). This resulted in a leverage ratio where every dollar of public resources mobilized nearly five dollars of private capital.
• The program achieved significant environmental and energy outcomes over the lifespan of the installed systems, including the avoidance of 715 Kt of CO2 emissions and 251 Ktoe of fossil fuel consumption. By 2010, the total installed base reached approximately 119,000 systems, representing a fivefold increase in annual capacity installed compared to previous initiatives.

APA

Trabacchi, C., Micale, V., & Frisari, G. (2012). San Giorgio Group Case Study: Prosol Tunisia. Climate Policy Initiative. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Prosol-Tunisia-SGG-Case-Study.pdf

Chicago

Trabacchi, Chiara, Valerio Micale, and Gianleo Frisari. San Giorgio Group Case Study: Prosol Tunisia. Climate Policy Initiative, 2012. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Prosol-Tunisia-SGG-Case-Study.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Trabacchi |first1=Chiara |last2=Micale |first2=Valerio |last3=Frisari |first3=Gianleo |title=San Giorgio Group Case Study: Prosol Tunisia |publisher=Climate Policy Initiative |date=June 2012 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Prosol-Tunisia-SGG-Case-Study.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{trabacchi2012san, author = {Trabacchi, Chiara and Micale, Valerio and Frisari, Gianleo}, title = {{San Giorgio Group Case Study: Prosol Tunisia}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2012}, month = jun, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Prosol-Tunisia-SGG-Case-Study.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }