USTDA Supports Morocco's Renewable Energy Goals

(USTDA) RABAT, MOROCCO – To support the development of a 1.5 megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) rooftop pilot project in Mohammedia, Morocco, USTDA awarded $666,619 for a feasibility study to the Moroccan National Company for Transportation and Logistics (SNTL). The grant was signed during a Chamber of Commerce hosted trade mission in Rabat on March 21, 2012, by U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Samuel L. Kaplan on behalf of USTDA and by Director General Oussama Loudghiri on behalf of SNTL.

"As a result of Morocco’s economic growth, rising energy demand is exceeding the country's currently installed renewable energy capacity," said USTDA Country Manager Heather Lanigan. "Morocco has made investments to increase their renewable energy capacity a top priority, and this feasibility study will support that objective, as well as encouraging U.S. business involvement in reaching that goal."

Morocco currently relies heavily on imports to meet more than 95% of the country's energy requirements. At the same time, current predictions estimate that energy consumption will rise 8% per year. As a result, the Government of Morocco has embarked on a national campaign to achieve 6 gigawatts of installed capacity from renewable energy resources by 2020 and is investing billions of dollars into developing the industry. This study will support Morocco's strides toward that goal, while exploring opportunities for U.S. technologies and services to play a role.

The feasibility study will develop the design, technology, and financing structure for a 1.5 megawatt solar PV rooftop pilot project on a planned facility expansion in Mohammedia, a key logistical center in the Casablanca region. In addition, the study will develop a methodology to duplicate the pilot project's success at for other planned facilities throughout Morocco, for a cumulative generation capacity of 7 megawatts.

SNTL recently participated in a USTDA-hosted reverse trade mission to the United States to become familiar with U.S. solar energy technologies, and the feasibility study will highlight the potential implementation of those U.S.-produced technologies into this pilot project.

The opportunity to conduct the feasibility study will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website. A link to the FBO announcement will be posted on USTDA's website at www.ustda.gov. Interested U.S. firms should submit proposals according to the instructions in the FBO announcement.