Morocco places 100 MW of wind turbine orders

17 February 2012 – Siemens Energy has secured its first wind turbine orders with a total capacity of 100 MW in Africa. Nareva Holding and Siemens signed a contract for the delivery of a total of 44 wind turbines for the Haouma and Foum El Oued wind power plants in Morocco. The scope of supply includes the delivery, installation and commissioning of the wind turbines, as well as a five year service contract for each project. Both wind power plants are expected to commence commercial operation by summer 2013. Africa is an emerging wind market with Morocco currently being number two in installations.

According to the Global Wind Energy Council, wind power is one of the most promising sectors for renewable energy generation in Morocco. The Moroccan government has set the target of raising the contribution of renewable energy to 20% of national electricity consumption by 2020.

The Haouma wind farm project will be built in northern Morocco, some 30 km east of Tangier, and six km south of the Mediterranean coast. At 50 MW, Haouma will feature 22 Siemens SWT-2.3-93 wind turbines. Foum El Oued will be built in one of the windiest areas of Morocco in the municipality of Laâyoune, nine kilometres south east of the port of Laâyoune in southern Morocco. Also at 50 MW, Foum El Oued will feature 22 SWT-2.3-101 wind turbines.