Morocco to establish 2,000-MW solar project

MOROCCO - Morocco imports 96 of its energy, although it has excellent solar potential throughout the country, with radiation ratings of between 2,800 and 3,000 solar-hours per year.

In a plan promoting energy self-sufficiency through solar power, the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy MASEN has nominated five locations to build five solar plants, with a total capacity of 2,000 megawatts MW. A request for proposals from pre-qualified candidates to develop the first plant will be issued at the end of this year. The project will be built on a public-private partnership PPP basis.

According to MASEN, the project's specifications are:

• The first plant, which is in the Ouarzazate area, has an area of 2,500 hectares and 2,635 kilowatt-hours per square meter per year kWh/m2/year solar radiation. This project expected to produce 1,150 GWh from a generating capacity of 500 MW. It will be commissioned in 2015.

• The second plant, which is in the Ain Beni Mather area, has an area of 2,000 hectares, with 2,290 kWh/m2/year solar radiation. This project is expected to produce 835 GWh from a capacity of 400 MW.

• The third plant, which is in the Foum Al Ouad area, has an area of 2,500 hectares and 2,628 kWh/m2/year solar radiation. This project is expected to produce 1,150 GWh from a capacity of 500 MW.

• The fourth plant, which is in the Boujdour area, has an area of 500 hectares and 2,642 kWh/m2/year solar radiation. This project is expected to produce 600 GWh from a capacity of 100 MW.

• The fifth plant, which is in the Sebkhate Tah area, has an area of 2,500 hectares and 2,140 kWh/m2/year solar radiation. This project is expected to produce 1,040 GWh from a capacity of 500 MW, and will be commissioned in 2019.

Currently, the Moroccan electricity sector has approximately 8,000 MW installed capacity, which is classified as 74 conventional power plants, 24 hydro and 2 wind. After completion of this project, Morocco will have about a 42 renewable share, divided into 14 hydro, 14 solar and 14 wind. This project will meet local demand in Morocco through pumping 4,500 GWh into the grid and saving 990,000 tons of fuel annually.

The total investment for the projects is valued at $9 billion. Financial authorities in Morocco mentioned that the project will need financing through global partnerships, as the estimated cost would prove difficult to cover by one or two Egyptian banks alone.