Enel Green Power to scale up Morocco clean energy projects

Enel Green Power, the Italian renewable energy developer, will scale up investment in Morocco as the country aims to source 42 per cent of its energy needs from renewables by 2020.

Morocco is one of the North African countries that the company is targeting for its future development, as highlighted in the company’s 2015-2019 strategic plan.

Enel CEO Francesco Venturini said: “Morocco has been a renewable energy pioneer in North Africa, establishing challenging targets and promoting a stable and clear regulatory framework for the development of renewables.”

Morocco is the largest importer of energy in the Middle East and North Africa, and has huge renewable energy potential, with the wind energy potential in the country estimated at 25,000 megawatts annually.

Renewable energy currently makes up around 34 per cent of Morocco’s total installed capacity, but the country plans to source 42 per cent of its energy needs from renewables by 2020.

The country’s Solar Plan is one of the largest solar power projects in Africa and the programme targets 2,000 megawatts solar power capacity installed by 2020 and will cover 10,000 hectares spread across five sites.

The programme includes the Noor-Ouarzazate project, for which the World Bank approved US$519 million debt financing last year.

Enel Green Power already have a regional headquarters in Morocco, but the new announcement marks further commitment to helping the country achieve its sustainable energy aims.  

The Italian company is bidding in the 850 megawatts wind power tender which ONEE expects to finalise in several weeks’ time.  Enel has been pre-qualified for the project, together with its partners for the bid, Nareva Holding, a unit of the royal SNI holding company and Siemens Wind Power.

The 850 megawatts project, which is estimated to cost €1 billion and will contribute greatly to the country’s wind power targets.