The Moroccan Renewable Energies Agency, Masen, has just announced this week the list of six consortia pre-selected for the construction of the photovoltaic power plant of the Noor II project in Midelt. Several companies are seeking to win this project costing several hundred million euros.
Masen announced the “short list” of companies shortlisted to win the tender for the construction of the photovoltaic power plant. These companies have come together in international consortia to strengthen their case.
At stake is a project with an investment of around 500 million euros and the construction of Noor II Midelt, a project launched by King Mohammed VI, whose capacity should reach 400 MW and two hours of storage.
Six consortia are vying for the project and these are the Spanish alliance of Cobra Servicios, Comunicaciones y Energía and Cobra Instalaciones y Servicios, the French EDF Renouvelables with the Emirati Masdar, the Italian Enel Green Power with Taqa Maroc, the Spanish Iberdrola Renovables International with Chinese Dongfang and Moroccan Gaia Project, Belgian International Power with Nareva Holding and Saudi Acwa Power.
These companies all want to participate in Morocco’s energy transition, which aims to reach 52% of energy from green sources by 2030. Currently renewable energies represent 40% of the country’s installed capacity, and represent 18% of total electricity production in Morocco.
It is difficult today to know which file will be the most interesting and which one will be retained. Each of them presents assets, in particular the candidatures which include a Moroccan partner.
If the French EDF and the Emirati Masdar seem to be the favorites for this call for tenders, they could be penalized by the delay accumulated on another project in Morocco. In 2019, the consortium won a tender for the construction of the Taza wind farm, located about 15 km northwest of the city.
But in 2023, the first phase composed of 27 wind turbines which should total a capacity of 87 MW, is still not finalized while the start of operation was to begin in 2022.
For its part, the Spanish electricity company Iderdola can count on previous experience with ONE since it participated in the development of wind projects in Morocco.
In addition, it can count on financial support from the World Bank, which wants to support clean energy projects in several emerging countries, including Morocco. Discussions are said to be underway to obtain a financing loan for green projects for the country, which would be a plus for the second Spanish file.