Deprived of hydrocarbon reserves on its soil, Morocco
imports more than 90 per cent of its energy resources. The country has set
itself ambitious renewable energy targets and aims to generate more than half
of its electrical power from sustainable sources by 2030.
In 2008, Morocco launched the National Renewable Energy and
Efficiency Plan, an energy programme aiming at having 42 per cent of its total
energy produced from renewable sources (solar, wind and hydroelectric sources)
by 2020. During the Climate Summit (COP 21) held in Paris in 2015, King
Mohammed VI announced that Morocco will achieve 52 percent of its electrical
power from renewable energy in 2030. It is the most ambitious renewable energy
programme in the region.
To become a green-power leader, the Kingdom of Morocco made
significant efforts to strengthen the legal and regulatory framework in order
to facilitate the development of the renewable energy sector in the country
(especially through a modernisation of the Laws applicable to the Private Finance
Initiative and to the Renewable Energy).
In the sector of thermal and photovoltaic solar energy, the
Kingdom of Morocco offers a wide range of investment opportunities. Indeed,
solar resources are abundant, with a potential of 2,600 kWh/m²/year.
In the sector of wind energy, the potential of the country
is largely untapped. In 2013, only 5.05 per cent (< 500 MW) of electricity
produced in Morocco was generated through wind power and the wind energy
potential in the country is estimated at 25,000 MW.
Moreover, Morocco has a strategic position as it is a
regional energy hub with a connection to Algeria and the Spanish electrical
grid through two electric lines (400kV/700 MW).
Morocco's Solar Power Programme and Noor Project
As Morocco gives priority to reducing dependence on fossil
fuels, the country launched the Moroccan Solar Plan in 2009. This Plan is one
of the world's largest solar energy projects and aims at building 2000 MW of
solar capacity by 2020.
L'Agence Marocaine pour l'Energie Solaire (the Moroccan
Agency for Solar Energy - MASEN), a public-private venture established by the
Renewable Energy Law No.13-09, and the Morocco's Office National de
l'Electricité et de l'Eau Potable (Moroccan electricity and water utility
company - ONEE) are in charge of the development and implementation of the
Moroccan plan for solar energy.
This plan is implemented through the "Noor
project" which aims to build and operate several plants based on solar
photovoltaic as well as solar thermal power. Two technologies, Concentrated
Solar Power (CSP) and Photovoltaic, are designated to be used at these
stations. All of the plants are supposed to include molten salt storage systems
that enable them to continue generating power without sunlight.
At this stage, five locations have been preselected:
Ouarzazate, Midelt, Laâyoune, Boujdour and Tata.
This major plan for solar energy is supposed to increase by
14 per cent the role of solar energy in total electricity capacity by 2020 and
prevent the emission of 3.7 million tons of CO² per year.
The Noor project in Ouarzazate
The hybrid solar power project located in Ouarzazate,
composed of four phases, will have a total installed capacity of 580 MW in
2018.
Once all phases will be in operation, the Noor Solar Complex
will be the largest solar power production facility in the world and will
provide electricity to more than one million homes.
Noor Midelt
In January 2016, a call for expression of interest for the
development of the first phase of the Noor Midelt solar power project was
launched and MASEN launched the prequalification process in July 2016.
Noor Midelt Phase 1 concerns the implementation of two CSP
and PV plants (each of the plant having a capacity between 150 and 190 MW).
This project will be implemented under an IPP scheme. The financial closing is
expected to occur in 2017 and the construction works will start by the end of
2017.
Noor Project launched by ONEE
Another solar power programme has been set up by the
Morocco's Office National de l'Electricité et de l'Eau Potable (Moroccan
electricity and water utility company - ONEE) and calls for the development of
400 MW in three phases by 2018.
Noor Tafilalet:
The first phase, the Noor Tafilalet solar power project,
consists in three solar power plants of 25 MW each and sited in the
southeastern part of Morocco. For this project, the bids were launched in July
2015.
In September 2015, it appears that 49 companies and
consortia from 19 countries have already taken part to the pre-qualification phase.
The bids have been submitted; however the contract has not been yet awarded.
The commissioning of Noor Tafilalet is scheduled for 2017.
The overall cost of Noor-Tafilalet is estimated at EUR 158
million, of which EUR 148.95 million will be provided by the World Bank.
Noor Atlas:
Besides the Noor Tafilalet solar plan, the Noor Atlas
programme is under studies. This 200 MW solar power complex will comprise eight
PV plants of 10 MW to 30 MW each in the southern part of the country in Tata,
Tahla (Bouizakarne), Tan Tan, Ain Beni Mathar, Boudnib, Bounanae, Outat El Haj
and Boulmane (Enjil).
The tender procedure for the Noor Atlas plan is expected to
be launched in the second half of 2016.
Noor Argana:
The Noor-Argana project is the third phase of ONEE's photovoltaic
programme for 500 MW by 2020.
The Noor Argana solar complex capacity is estimated between
200 MW and 225 MW. At this stage, the selected locations for the development
are: Boumalen, Tinghir, Errhamna and Essaouira.
The 200 MW Noor Argana project has been announced and the
ONEE is taking the final steps to organize the tender. The call for
pre-qualification bids for Noor-Argana should take place at the end of 2016 or
at the start of 2017. Commissioning is scheduled to start in 2018.
No comments:
Post a Comment