Renewable energies grow in Morocco thanks to EGP

In southern Morocco, between the cities of Essaouira and Agadir, the Argan Forest stretches for about 800,000 hectares. The area has been protected by UNESCO since 1998. The trees that produce the oil, long used by the Berbers for its healing properties, are considered a symbol of life and wisdom for the local inhabitants. The oldest one in Morocco, the Targante Nchick, is celebrated by the population every year with ceremonies to remember the past, with hopes for a more prosperous future. Enel Green Power is committed to giving shape to this hope and guaranteeing Morocco an energy future that can improve the living conditions of local communities, promoting sustainable development in the country that, still today, is one of the largest importers of fossil fuels in the region of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Morocco presents a huge potential for the production of renewable energy. The country is inundated by the sun, presenting one of the highest irradiation rates of the African countries with an average of 3,000 hours of sunlight a year and up to 3,600 in the desert area. According to the Societè d'Investissement Energetique (SIE), the wind potential of the country is equal to 7.9 TWh a year. Furthermore, the 3,500 kilometres of coast record winds with an average speed between 9.5 and 11 metres a second, especially in the areas of Essaouira, Tangier and Tetouan. The 3D Model: decarbonization, decentralization and digitalization The Moroccan energy model is going through a radical paradigm change, with the emergence of a new scenario marked by 3 challenges starting with the letter D: decarbonization, decentralization and digitalization. Even though the country still depends on fossil fuels to meet more than 80% of its energy needs, it is expected to have significant growth in the generation of renewable sources in the next ten years (IEA data, 2015). There is plenty of sun and wind and the Moroccan authorities, led by King Mohammed VI, launched a National Energy Strategy in 2009, developed over the years toward increasingly ambitious goals: 42% of renewable installed capacity by 2020. A percentage that should reach 52% by 2030, especially with solar and wind. A target that would allow Morocco to consolidate its position as one of the main producers of renewable energy in the MENA region. COP22, the UN conference on climate change, was held in Marrakech in 2016. During the event, the North African government showed its efforts regarding the country’s pollution problems, for example, with a ban on the production and importation of plastic bags in place for over two years. “Morocco has become and example and a leader in Africa and around the world in the field of renewable energy and in the fight against climate change.” Adnan Amin, Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) The country has set the goal of generating 2,000 MW of wind energy, 2,000 MW solar and 2.000 MW of hydropower by 2020, aiming to reach a renewable capacity of 1.5GW a year. To achieve these goals, a specific legislative framework and integrated national plans were created. The solar project, carried out by the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN) will generate investments of over 9 billion dollars between now and 2020, and will allow them to save 3.7 million tonnes of CO2 a year. With EGP, toward the Future of Renewables in Africa Guaranteeing energy security and access to electricity to a continent in constant demographic growth, like Africa, is a both a great challenge and a great opportunity. Enel Green Power has been active in Africa since 2011 with several projects, aiming to bring to light a new development model using clean energy. The latest news is the start of construction work on the Ngonye solar project in Zambia, that, once in operation, will produce about 70 GWh a year. Morocco has positioned itself in recent years as a leader of the African countries in the fight against climate change and in the development of renewable energy, which reached 34% of the capacity installed in the country in 2017, according to the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN). A commitment carried out specifically by the Moroccan king, who launched a long process of liberalization of the energy market. The Mediterranean African country has the potential of becoming a future energy hub for renewables and Enel Green Power’s presence on the continent is contributing to the achievement of Morocco’s energy objectives, speeding up its evolution and fostering the growth of clean energy generation on medium and high voltage networks. As part of a consortium with Siemens and the local company Nareva, Enel Green Power was officially put in charge of the construction of five wind plants throughout Morocco, for a total of 850 MW. Furthermore, one of EGP’s future prospects is also the participation in new tenders to increase photovoltaic capacity in the country, being a global leader in the development of concentrated solar power (CSP) systems already. “Enel Green Power, thanks to its international presence, is becoming one of the leaders in the sector in Morocco, allowing for the development of local skills and know-how to improve the production of renewable energy as a new energy source in Morocco, instead of the fossil energy we are currently using in this country.” Chami Abdelilah, Morocco CSV Manager EGP In Morocco, there are many growth possibilities for sustainable development. We are ready to accompany the country toward the future of renewables, bringing our expertise to a continent where energy access is a fundamental requisite to improving the economy and quality of life.

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Renewable energies grow in Morocco thanks to EGP

Renewable energies grow in Morocco thanks to EGP