The Moroccan Sustainable Energy Agency is making efforts to promote integrated and diversified projects, especially in the wind sector. In this context, the Nassim Nord 400 MW program is of particular importance. This project, which envisages the development of wind farms in Koudia Al Baida and Dar Chaoui, illustrates Morocco’s commitment to renewable energy. By launching prequalification for this program, Masen is paving the way for private sector participation in clean energy implementation.
Morocco has set itself the challenge of reaching 52% of the installed capacity of renewable energy in its energy mix by 2030. To this end, an attractive legal and institutional framework has been set up to achieve these objectives. In this context, the Moroccan Sustainable Energy Agency (Masen) is responsible for implementing a global and integrated approach to renewable energy sources, including solar, wind and hydropower.
Given the proven wind potential in the northern region of Morocco, an expansion of the NASSIM Koudia Al Baida Repowering project was considered, as well as the development of a wind farm in Dar Chaoui.
Masen is thus launching the prequalification for the selection of the private partner that will be responsible for the financing, construction and operation of the Nassim Nord 400MW wind farm program. This new project includes the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of two onshore wind farms in two locations, the Koudia Al Baida extension, with a capacity of 150 MW, and Dar Chaoui, located in the provinces of Tangier and Tetouan, with a capacity of approximately 250MW.
The coveted private sector
However, the project will be executed in accordance with a planned 30-year power purchase agreement (PPA) to be entered into between Masen as buyer and the project company. Masen will therefore act as a shareholder, either directly or through one of its subsidiaries, buyer and supplier of land. The facilities will be built on dedicated and available sites made available by Masen in the form of leasehold agreements or equivalent agreements. Companies are therefore invited to submit their quotes for the project until June 24.
Thanks to its project financing structure, this new program will promote greater private sector involvement in the deployment of sustainable energy, with the participation of commercial banks, both Moroccan and international, in its financing.
In addition, Masen plans to acquire, alone or together with a Moroccan public entity, a 35% minority stake in both the project company and the management and maintenance (O&M) company, and, if applicable, an entity dedicated to management and maintenance of the project is made as part of the project.
Note that this project will further strengthen Morocco’s position as one of the leaders in wind energy production on the continental stage. According to a report published a few months ago by the World Wind Energy Council, the projects operational and under construction in Morocco planned to be put into operation have made it possible to reach a capacity of 9 GW by the end of 2020. The report also highlighted Morocco’s growing capacity in wind energy.
The Koudia Al Baida wind farm, on the outskirts of Tangier, should increase from 54 MW to 120 MW, eventually reaching 200 MW. NOOR Ouarzazate was the first solar complex developed by Masen, with a capacity of approximately 580 MW. It includes a mix of CSP and PV (photovoltaic) projects under an independent power generation scheme (IPP).
In addition, Masen has developed two other PV projects, the 85 MW NOOR Laâyoune plant and the 20 MW NOOR Boujdour I plant, which are also in operation. At the same time, another solar complex was developed near the city of Midelt in Morocco.
The latter consists of three installations. These are NOOR Midelt I, consisting of a hybrid solar power plant combining different technologies and in the financial closing phase, NOOR Midelt II (~400 MWp and ~460 MWh BESS storage) and NOOR Midelt III (~400 MWp and ~ 460 MWh of BESS storage), which are in the tender procedure. Masen also launched the request for proposals for the NOOR Atlas project with a total capacity of 234 MWac through an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) program, including the construction, operation and maintenance of six PV plants.
In terms of wind technologies, under the Nassim plan, Masen has achieved in 2022 the financial closure of the repowering project of the Nassim Koudia Al Baida wind farm, located near Tangier, which will double the wind farm’s production capacity. ranging from 50 MW currently installed by ONEE in 2000 to 100 MW. The project is currently being commissioned.
Maryem Ouazzani / ECO inspirations
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