Wind energy in Morocco: Vestas receives 120 MW order

Vestas has signed a firm and unconditional order with Acwa Power to supply 40 units of the V90-3.0 MW wind turbine for the 120 MW Khalladi wind park, which will be located in the windy Tangiers region of northern Morocco.

The contract comprises the supply of the wind turbines as well as a 20-year Active Output Management (AOM) 4000 service agreement to guarantee the optimal performance of the wind park.

The Khalladi wind park will be the first renewable energy project financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Morocco that allows private producers to sell electricity through power purchase agreements to industrial off-takers. In addition to EBRD, the project will be co-financed by the Moroccan bank BMCE and Argan Infrastructure Fund, an Africa-focused infrastructure fund managed by Infra Invest.

Turbine delivery is planned for the second quarter of 2017, while commissioning is expected for the fourth quarter of 2017.

President of Vestas Mediterranean, Marco Graziano, comments, “Being Vestas’ first order in Morocco since 2000 this project represents a big step forward for us, as we continue to work hard to build a stronger presence in the country and contribute to the development of the growing Moroccan wind industry”.

Morocco has put in place an ambitious plan to accelerate the deployment of wind energy. The Moroccan Integrated Energy Project envisages increasing the share of wind power in the national energy mix to around 20 percent by 2020. Vestas has recently established a local presence in Casablanca.