Morocco progresses with Noor Midelt solar talks
10 April 2025
Talks are progressing between the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (Masen) and the team that submitted the “winning bids” for the contracts to develop Morocco’s latest two solar independent power projects (IPP).
Riyadh-based utility developer and investor Acwa Power is leading a team that submitted the winning bids for the contracts in December, as MEED reported.
“The bid evaluation process is still ongoing,” notes a source close to the project.
The Noor Midelt 2 and Noor Midelt 3 solar IPP schemes have a capacity of 400MW each, with attached battery energy storage system (bess) plants.
Masen received and opened bids for both contracts on 12 December.
Acwa Power has partnered with local firm Nareva for its proposals to develop both projects, the source said.
The other teams that have submitted bids for the contracts are:
- EDF Renouvelables (France) / Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar, UAE)
- Engie (France) / Fipar (local)
According to one of the sources, a team comprising France’s Engie and the local Fipar submitted the lowest tariff of MD0.3233 a kilowatt-hour for the Noor Midelt 2 IPP, with the energy tariff accounting for 95% and the bess tariff at 5%.
The Acwa Power team, which proposed the second-lowest tariff of MD0.3245/kWh, offered the use of bess for up to 200 cycles for free, which helped it outbid the other two teams.
The third team, comprising France’s EDF and the UAE’s Masdar, offered a levelised electricity (LCOE) cost of MD0.3398/kWh for the Noor Midelt 2 IPP contract.
Acwa Power emerged with the lowest LCOE of MD0.3652/kWh for the Noor Midelt 3 contract.
Project backgrounds
The Noor Midelt 2 IPP consists of a 400MW solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant with a two-hour battery storage capacity.
It replaces a previous scheme 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.
Noor Midelt 3 is expected to have a solar PV capacity of up to 400MW and a bess capacity not exceeding 400 megawatt-hours (MWh).
The Noor Midelt 2 and 3 IPP projects will be implemented according to a 30-year power-purchase agreement between Masen, the offtaker, and the project companies that will be formed for the schemes.
According to Masen, if any international finance institutions, such as Germany’s KFW or the European Investment Bank, participate, those banks’ procurement rules will apply to the projects.
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 of producing 52% of its energy from clean sources by 2030, one of the most ambitious targets in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Morocco aims to increase 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.
READ THE APRIL 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – clck here to view PDF
Regional construction heads underground; Riyadh reaps both diplomatic and economic success; Luxury GCC hospitality projects drive tourism
Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the April 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
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> AGENDA 1: Traffic drives construction underground
> AGENDA 2: Muted public spending hinders global tunnelling
> TOURISM 1: Beaches and luxury drive regional tourism
> TOURISM 2: Region’s hotel projects pipeline balloons
> EDMOND DE ROTHSCHILD: Investing in Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure opportunities
> DATA CENTRES: GCC’s top five data centre projects
> SAUDI PPPs: Rise in PPPs reflects Saudi budgetary pragmatism
> SAUDI ARABIA REPORT: Riyadh enjoys buoyant fortunes
> GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf index sees minor correction
> CONTRACT AWARDS: Project awards slump notably in February
> ECONOMIC DATA: Data drives regional projects
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Dubai seeks consultants for drainage projects6 February 2026
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Modon tenders Ras El-Hekma construction contracts6 February 2026
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Egypt contractor secures €58m loan for Hungary power plant6 February 2026
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AD Ports signs Jordan Aqaba port PPP deal6 February 2026
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Chinese firm wins Ceer automotive supplier park deal6 February 2026
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