The European Investment Bank (EIB) has appointed a consortium led by offshore wind consultancy OWC to assess the feasibility of developing Morocco’s first offshore wind farm.
The two-year study will examine a potential project on Morocco’s Atlantic coast near Essaouira, following an endorsement by the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN). It is being funded through the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) Trust Fund.
The study will cover the technical, commercial and environmental requirements for an offshore wind project, providing a basis for decisions on whether and how the development should proceed.
OWC is leading a consortium that includes marine, environmental, engineering and project management specialists from Morocco, Europe and Africa. Partners include PHENIXA and SOFECO of the Ginger Group, Gaïa Terre Bleue and Moroccan engineering consultancy NOVEC.
Work will include an assessment of Morocco’s offshore wind market and potential supply chain, site selection, wind resource analysis and concept design for the proposed wind farm. A dedicated meteorological campaign will be used to improve understanding of the wind resource at the prospective site.
The consortium will also examine port and logistics requirements, project risks and Morocco’s regulatory framework. Grid impact and integration studies will be undertaken with Moroccan grid specialists, alongside marine investigations and environmental and social impact assessments.
The grid work will be particularly important in determining how a future offshore wind farm could be connected to Morocco’s electricity system and what network infrastructure might be required as offshore generation expands.
OWC said its teams in France, the UK and Germany would contribute offshore wind and engineering expertise, while marine and ports expertise will be provided through sister company ABL.
“This is a major milestone for Morocco’s and Africa’s renewable energy journey,” said Hakim Mouslim, OWC’s regional director for Europe and Africa.
Morocco has significant plans for renewable generation, but offshore wind remains at an early stage compared with its established solar and onshore wind sectors. The feasibility study will therefore provide some of the first detailed project-specific information on offshore wind conditions, infrastructure requirements and development constraints in the country.
For the EIB and MASEN, the work is intended to establish whether the Atlantic coast can support a technically and economically viable offshore wind project and help define the conditions for a future investment decision.
