In North Africa, Morocco is preparing to launch a tender for adding an additional 850MW of wind generation capacity to the national grid, a source at the Moroccan electricity and water utility company (ONEE) told local daily L'economiste.
The tender is expected to be launched in the coming weeks and the projects are expected to be commissioned between 2017 and 2019.
Selected pre-qualification bidders
According to SeeNews Renewables, ONEE has shortlisted several major groups, which have met the pre-qualification requirements.
The shortlisted firms include Spanish Acciona Energia and Acciona Wind Power, France's EDF Energies Nouvelles with Qatar Electricity and Water Company, Fipar Holding, Alstom Wind as well as the Saudi group International Company for Water and Power Project in cooperation with Gamesa Eolica Sl.
Additional groups include UK International Power PLC with International Power LTD (UAE) and Vestas France SAS.
SeeNews Renewables reported that Moroccan Nareva Holding has teamed up with Enel Green Power and Siemens Wind Power AS, who are included in the shortlist.
Morocco wind generation capacity
Currently, Morocco has 787MW of installed wind generation capacity, which includes 300MW that came online at the end of 2014.
In December 2014, the Tarfaya Wind Farm, a 50:50 joint venture between the GDF SUEZ and Nareva Holding, reached commercial operation.
The generated clean power is expected to offset 900,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year and will power an estimated 1.5 million households, Clean Technica reported.
The joint venture signed a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement, which will sell generated wind power to ONEE.