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Firms prepare Noor Midelt 2 and 3 bids

14 November 2024

 

Prequalified developers are preparing to submit their proposals for contracts to develop solar photovoltaic (PV) projects with associated battery energy storage systems (bess) in Morocco. 

The Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (Masen) extended the tender closing dates for the Noor Midelt 2 and Noor Midelt 3 solar PV and bess projects until late November.

Masen prequalified the following firms that can bid for the Noor Midelt 2 solar independent power project (IPP) in July last year: 

  • Acwa Power (Saudi Arabia)
  • Cobra Servicios, Communicaciones y Energia / Cobra Instalaciones y Servicios (Spain)
  • EDF Renouvelables (France) / Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar, UAE)
  • Enel Green Power (Italy) / Taqa Morocco (local)
  • Iberdrola Renovables (Spain) / Dongfang Electric (China) / Gaia Project (local)
  • International Power (Belgium) and Nareva (local)

The Noor Midelt 2 solar IPP consists of a 400MW solar PV power plant with battery storage of two hours.

It replaces a previous scheme that was expected to include thermal concentrated solar power and PV solar components, similar to Noor Midelt 1, which was previously awarded to a consortium of EDF and Masdar.

Midelt 3

The Noor Midelt 3 IPP scheme is expected to have a solar PV capacity of up to 400MW and a bess capacity not exceeding 400 megawatt-hours (MWh).       

In December 2023, Masen prequalified eight groups to bid for the Noor Midelt 3 solar IPP contract. These are:

  • Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) (UAE) / Taqa Morocco (local)
  • Acciona (Spain) / Green of Africa (local)
  • Acwa Power (Saudi Arabia) / Nareva Holding (local)
  • Cobra (Spain) / Vinci Concessions (France)
  • EDF Renouvelables (France) / Mitsui & Co (Japan)  
  • Iberdrola (Spain)
  • Kahrabel (UAE) / GDF International (France)
  • SPIC Huanghe Hydropower Development (China) / Amea Power (UAE)

The Noor Midelt 2 and 3 IPP projects will be implemented according to a 30-year power-purchase agreement between Masen as the offtaker and the project company that will be formed for the scheme. 

In the case of participation by any international finance institutions, such as Germany’s KFW or the European Investment Bank, those banks’ procurement rules will be applied to the project, according to Masen.

The solar and bess plants are expected to be built on a dedicated and available site that Masen will provide under a land lease or equivalent agreement.

This suggests that common infrastructure such as the water supply, roads and telecommunications services will be shared, and will be constructed “to ensure overall consistency of the solar complex and optimise benefits from a simultaneous development of the infrastructure”.   

US/India-based Synergy Consulting is the client's financial adviser for the projects.

Clean energy target

Morocco has set a target for 52% of its energy to be produced from clean energy sources by 2030, one of the most ambitious targets in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Morocco aims to bring its renewable capacity to 10,000MW by 2030. Solar PV capacity is expected to comprise 4,500MW, with wind and hydroelectric comprising 4,200MW and 1,300MW, respectively.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/12920645/main.jpg
Jennifer Aguinaldo

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