With a surface area of 11,000 hectares and a capacity of 900 MW it will be one of the largest in the world.

Marruecos construirá un parque eólico en la ciudad de Dajla

photo_camera Atalayar_Parque Eólico Marruecos

Morocco will install a 900 MW wind power plant in the city of Dakhla, located in Western Sahara. The US company Soluna Technologies Ltd, which boosts the blockchain economy with low-cost renewable energy, and backed by the private equity firm Brookstone Partners, is responsible for the project. The plant will cover 11,000 hectares.

Once the technical feasibility and environmental studies have been carried out and completed, the Moroccan Ministry of Energy has given the green light to the construction of the plant. 

According to Soluna's CEO, John Belizaire, the work will begin in mid 2021 and will cost 2.5 million dollars and be entirely privately financed. However, for the time being all the financiers of the project are unknown, as it is located in an area where foreign investment is not abundant owing to the disputed status of Western Sahara.

As for the benefits it will bring, it is estimated that it will create approximately 400 skilled jobs. In addition, they will establish a local centre specialising in blockchain technology, a growing global market, and build banks and hotels. 

The project will be located on a site that has 22 miles/hour of wind. AM Wind, a subsidiary of Altus AG based in Germany and an expert in renewable energy, will also play a key role in the new plant. 

The United States as a great support

Washington's recent recognition of Western Sahara as a Moroccan territory underpins the policy the United States has already been pursuing in the area. 

The American country will open a consulate with an economic and commercial vocation in the city of Dakhla. According to the US Ambassador to Morocco, David Fischer, "the consular office will serve to support and encourage investment and development projects that will bring tangible benefits".

In the same city, the United States will co-finance Dakhla Atlantic Port which will have a direct line to Atlanta. This operation reflects the importance of the city for Morocco and its development. 

"This week, we plan to make a series of announcements that will consolidate the United States-Morocco strategic partnership in economic development and trade, while strengthening Morocco's role as a regional economic leader," the ambassador said. He also considers Morocco "the economic gateway" to Africa

Great potential in renewable energies

Renewable energy production is becoming increasingly important in the North African country. In the last decade it has injected 5.65 billion dollars into the sector. And by the end of this year it aimed to make 42% of its energy production renewable, the equivalent of 6,000 MW, and by 2030 to reach 52%. In 2019, it managed to reach 3,685 MW of renewable energy, of which 1,215 MW came from wind energy, 1,770 MW from hydroelectric power and 700 MW from thermal solar energy. 

It currently has four solar plants and eleven wind power plants. The Noor Ouarzazate solar plant has the largest capacity, with 580 MW. In terms of wind energy, the Tarfaya wind farm has the greatest potential, with 301 MW. When the Dakhla wind farm is built it will far exceed the output of both plants.

Morocco's potential in wind energy is very large, but not only in conventional wind energy but also in offshore wind energy. "It is too attractive to ignore," said World Bank senior energy specialist Mark Leybourne. If properly exploited, the country could become a major exporter of energy to the European market, especially to close neighbours such as Spain and Portugal. 

As far as offshore wind energy is concerned, Morocco's Atlantic coast offers ideal conditions for this type of park by combining good wind speeds with shallow and also deep waters, so that fixed foundation offshore wind turbines and floating turbines can be built. The whole western thing would have a potential of 135 GW.

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