Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (Masen) and the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development have launched the first phase of the mega solar energy project Noor II. The Moroccan authorities have allocated 333 MW of solar PV capacity in the project tender.
Launched in January 2020, Noor II is a multi-site solar PV project with a total capacity of 400 MW. The mega project comprises the construction of 14 projects stretching over several locations across the country
The project sites are located near Sidi Bennour, Kalat Sraghna, Bejaad, Taroudant, El Hajeb, Guercif, and Ain Beni Mathar. The selected projects are part of the first phase of the Noor II project, where Masen has already assigned 13 projects to private companies through the tender. The projects stretch over seven sites with a combined capacity of 333MW.
UAE-based Amea Power, Italian IPP Enel Green Power, French electric company Voltalia, and Moroccan energy company Taqa Maroc are the main winning bidders for this phase of the project.
Taqa Maroc was awarded the first five lots at Sidi Bennour and Kelaa Sraghna, where the projects have a target of 48 MW capacity each in the two cities.
Enel Green Power Morocco received lots number six to nine at a site in Bejaad, a town located in the Khouribga province. These lots also have a target capacity of 48MW.
Voltalia Morocco claimed the lots number twelve and thirteen, which are located in Guercif in the Oriental region, and Ain Beni Mathar in Jerrada province. These two projects have a capacity of 48MW and 69MW respectively.
Amea Power won the lots ten and eleven, located in Taroudant, southeastern Morocco, and El Hajeb, in the Fes-Meknes region, respectively. These two lots have a capacity of 36 MW each.
Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of Al Nowais Investments and AMEA Power, said, “Being awarded a total capacity of 72MW in Morocco is another great milestone for AMEA Power. Morocco is a significant market for us, as it has established itself as a regional leader in clean energy pushing forward large-scale renewable energy projects.”
Morocco intends to develop at least 2 GW of renewable energy capacity under the Noor Solar Plan. The country’s energy strategy was launched in 2009, which aims to increase the share of renewable energy in its electricity mix to 42% by 2020, and to 52% by 2030.
