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The Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (Masen) has launched a call for Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) service providers to enter the competitive bidding round for the construction, operation and maintenance of seven solar photovoltaic plants with a total capacity of 260 megawatts.

The submitted bids will be opened on October 30, 2022. The European Investment Bank (EIB), which is providing US$131 million, will finance the project.
 
This project forms part of the country’s Noor Atlas Solar Programme. The National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE), which aims to provide solar energy options to remote areas of Morocco, will implement it. The seven solar plants are divided into two lots in the south and east of the country.
 
Lot 1 will comprise:

• 42MW plant in Ain Beni Mathar.
• 42MW plant in Enjil.
• 36MW plant in Boudnib.
• 36MW plant in Outat el Haj.
• 30MW in Bouanane.

Lot 2: 

• 36MW plant in Tan-Tan.
• 36MW plant in Tata region.

“Law 38-16 provides for the transfer of renewable assets from the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) to Masen. It is in this context, and following the pre-qualification phase organized by ONEE, Masen’s historical partner, that the call of tenders launched today by Masen will make it possible to select the manufacturer(s) (EPC) among the 8 pre-qualified companies/consortia,” the tender document states.

3/3 Pour en savoir plus, consultez le Communiqué de Presse ici : https://t.co/97IkKT1qGD

— Masen (@MasenOfficiel) July 5, 2022

Renewable energy currently contributes 35% of Morocco's total energy supply capacity. Fifty renewable energy projects are operational in the country, with a 4.11-gigawatt combined capacity. Of these, 2.5 gigawatts are solar, 1.32 gigawatts are wind, and 360 megawatts are hydroelectric projects. 

The Noor Atlas Solar Programme will help Morocco its energy objective of increasing the share of renewable energy power in the country to 52% by 2030 from the current 35%. It will also help reduce Morocco’s dependence on fossil fuels and introduce new energy sources. 

Masen has helped contribute significantly to shifting the Moroccan energy transition to renewable sources, through the efficient management of electricity projects, like wind and solar projects.  

The agency operates on the principle that green energy will drastically help hasten the country’s economic, social and environmental development. 

Photo: Modules of a Photovoltaic System in a Solar Park - Stock Image (Achim Schneider | Dreamstime)