Morocco Reinforces Grid Connection with Spain and Algeria

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--In 2008, Morocco imported about 97% of its energy, costing about $7.75 billion. The country's electricity sector is attempting to extend the power grid, both domestically and with other countries, as well as implementing renewable energy projects to help meet the 7.5% annual growth in power demand.

Morocco's National Office of Electricity (ONE) owns and operates that country's 5,431-megawatt (MW) power grid, which consists of 18,920 kilometers of transmission lines. The grid covers the entire country and is connected to the Algerian and Spanish power grids via regional links. The capacity of the connection between Morocco and Spain is 1,400 MW via two 400-kilovolt (kV) subsea cables. Three 400-kV with a 1,200-MW capacity connect Algeria and Morocco.

ONE aims to strengthen and extend the grid by extending the transmission lines within the country and constructing a third 400-kV subsea connection to Spain. Furthermore, a 400-kV connection to Algeria is currently being implemented to reinforce the existing 225-kV connection.

In April, Nareva Holding, a subsidiary of ONE and the leading Moroccan industrial and financial group, signed a contract with Alstom Wind and Hydro to build a new windfarm, consisting of 61 Alstom ECO 74 wind turbines, totaling more than 100 MW in Akhfenir, Morocco. Alstom will supply, install and commission the windfarm and is responsible for operation and maintenance during the first five years. The windfarm will be commissioned in 2011.

Morocco's electricity sector owned 253 MW of wind capacity, which represents 4.5% of the country's total installed capacity. The country has a target to establish 11,000 MW of wind capacity by 2015, resulting in the production of about 45% of the country's electricity generation from renewable energy by 2020.

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