Morocco Launches International Tenders for Seven Solar Plants

Morocco has launched international tenders for the building of seven solar energy plants in the south and east of the country. The German development bank KfW is a partner in this 200 MW Noor Atlas project.
According to Moroccan state-owned utility Office National de l’Electricité, the tenders are divided into two lots: one for the construction of five plants in Ain Beni Mathar, Bouanane, Boudenib, Boulemane (Enjil) and Outat El Haj – all in eastern Morocco; and a second for facilities in Tata and Tan-Tan, in the south.
These projects, which are backed by KfW and the European Investment Bank with around €130 million, will range in size from 20-30 MW. Other international financial institutions such as French development agency AFD, the African Development Bank and the World Bank are also expected to support this ambitious undertaking.
The Noor Atlas project is part of Morocco’s plan to add 2 GW of solar and wind power capacity by next year. The North African country has several more solar projects under development and construction. These include the 170 MW NOOR PV I project, part of the 580 MW Ouarzazate solar power station, the 120 MW Noor Tafilalet plant, tendered in 2017, the 200 MW Noor Argana project, to be tendered this year; and the 800 MW Midelt project.
Through its energy strategy, Morocco wants to increase the share of renewables in its installed power generation capacity to 42 pc by next year, and to 52 pc by 2030. Its solar plans are being implemented by the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy.