News

Sahara Wind at the “Overhauling Transatlantic Security Thinking” SDA conference on June 4th, 2014 in Brussels, Belgium.

The event took place in the backdrop of tensions with Russia and democratization process in North Africa with renewed conflict in Africa. During this conference, Khalid Benhamou, Managing Director of Sahara Wind reminded the audience of the importance of tackling climate refugee flows by addressing their root cause and building upstream sustainable development strategies.

At the invitation of the Greek Presidency of the European Union and in response to the common ambition of Morocco and the EU to further deepen their privileged partnership, the Sahara Wind Project is presented at the Conference on "Research and Innovation at the Service of Economy and Society in the European Neighborhood”in Thessaloniki on May 29-30, 2014.

With H.E. Abdelilah Benkirane Head of the Governement of Morocco at the  Seminar on Scientific Research and Innovation at the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco April 29th 2014.

Sahara Wind moderated at the Global Growth Conference in Rabat, Morocco on April 24  2014. The session focused on 'Energy Strategies in Africa: Stimulating growth while ensuring energy access and efficiency' was moderated by its Managing Director, Khalid Benhamou.

13th World Wind Energy Conference & Renewable Energy Exhibition (WWEC 2014)

The 13th World Wind Energy Conference & Renewable Energy Exhibition (WWEC 2014) was held in Shanghai, China from 7-9 April 2014. In the past 10 years, the Chinese wind power industry has achieved a record development in wind turbine installations. Deploying close to 50% of the world’s wind turbines in its domestic market during the last 4 consecutive years, China boosted its wind manufacturing base significantly. While R&D capabilities made significant progress, the Chinese wind power industry has accumulated a rich experience in wind farm construction, operations and various other aspects. Heading towards 100 GW of installed wind power capacity (one-third of the World’s total), China is currently building six Mega-Wind projects beyond the 10 GW range.

World Water Day 2014 brings its attention to the Water and Energy nexus. The 2014 edition demonstrates through case studies that integrated approaches and solutions to water-energy issues can achieve greater economic and social impacts. Crosscutting frameworks bridging public and private sectors in a green economy will lead to greater energy security and sustainable water use. Particular attention will be paid to identifying best practices that can make a water and energy-efficient 'Green Industry' a reality. The Sahara Wind Project is actively involved in supporting access to potable water in arid regions using renewable energies. Water treatment technologies can enhance the uptake of intermittent sources of renewable energies such as wind power in weaker grid infrastructures found on most of the African continent. Acting as a stabilizing load in a high wind penetration system, desalination as well as electrolysis generated by-products such as chlorine or hypochlorite are indispensable elements in water treatment solutions for producing clean, drinking water. Within such framework, many synergies can be applied.

An in-depth analysis of the International Energy Agency reveals that energy accounts for 15% of global water usage, and will consume ever more through 2035

The Sahara Wind project combines wind and water treatment technologies: The Sahara Wind Project

Sahara Wind at the EHEC-2014 European Hydrogen Energy Conference

As a reference framework for updates on hydrogen and fuel cell related technologies, the European Hydrogen Energy Conference was held in Seville, Spain from March 12-14 2014.

The Sahara Wind Project and ‘The role of Hydrogen from the trade winds in North Africa’s broader renewable energy transition’ was presented during the 3rd plenary session of the European Hydrogen Energy Conference EHEC 2014. The European Hydrogen Energy Conference EHEC 2014 provided a setting to present the advances in research, products and projects currently under development. During the conference, Sahara Wind presented its current project development activities, which includes the phased deployment of hydrogen technologies in North Africa. These are likely to enhance the prospects for integrated applications in the field wind energy access, leveraging the processing of the region’s minerals as well as major industrial activities.The presentation of the Sahara Wind Project during the EHEC 2014 3rd plenary session on Hydrogen and Fuel Cell opportunities in the Mediterranean area paved the way to the last plenary session focused on Generation & Storage Energy.

Sahara Wind joins the campaign to help building a global momentum toward achieving 100% RE in jurisdictions across the world.

The overall goal of the campaign is to brand 100% renewable energy and to build a global alliance for 100% renewable energy. The campaign seeks to attract governmental, non-governmental, profit and non-profit organizations from all parts of the world to support this initiative. Global 100% RE is the first global initiative that advocates 100% renewable energy. This unique campaign builds on projects that are already taking place on national, regional and local levels and steers the global discourse on renewable energy towards 100% RE as the new normal.

Many scientific studies have shown that 100% RE regionally and globally is technically possible by the year 2050, and some scientists conclude we can get there as soon as 2030. Several regions, cities and islands can achieve – indeed are achieving – this target even earlier than that. The campaign primarily aims at building a coalition of the willing for a 100% target and seeks to build an international societal momentum for setting the target in the various regions or constituencies and implement an adequate roadmap towards it.

Sahara Wind publishes "Morocco: The Emergence of a Wind Power Country" on pages 573-585 of 'Wind Power for the World'.

In part 2 of Wind Power for the World, the editors have collected reports and overviews of wind power status and history in various countries, several written by individuals who have made valuable contributions to the successful emergence of wind power. The chapters cover the uphill struggle; wind energy strategies and policies that paved the way; and the creative persons in politics, agencies, institutes, and the industry. It also examines the world societies at large and how solutions to the challenges were found in different countries.

ISBN-13: 978-9814411899
ISBN-10: 9814411892

Interview à l'issue du débat politique du MENA Policy HUB

Sahara Wind a pris part aux travaux du débat politique organisé par le MPH «MENA Policy HUB» - à Casablanca le 04 Janvier 2014. Son Directeur Général, Khalid Benhamou est intervenu en tant que panéliste sur le thème ‘Les politiques relatives à la crise énergétique: Quelle vision pour le Maroc?’

Sahara Wind à la 13ème conférence de la FEMIP – « L'efficacité énergétique dans la région méditerranéenne » le 10 décembre 2013 à Bruxelles

Organisée par la BEI, en collaboration avec l'Observatoire méditerranéen de l’énergie et l'Union pour la Méditerranée, la treizième édition de la Conférence de la FEMIP a rassemblé 250 participants d'Europe et des pays méditerranéens pour débattre activement de la manière dont l'efficacité énergétique peut renforcer la position concurrentielle mondiale d'un pays et créer des possibilités d'emploi. Elle s'est tenue juste avant la réunion ministérielle de l'Union pour la Méditerranée sur l'énergie, le 10 décembre 2013 à Bruxelles.

A US $960,000 Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) grant for the Jbel-Sendoug (Khalladi) Wind Project in Northern Morocco was approved at the end of December 2013 to support outstanding preparation activities to bring the project to bankability. SEFA support will be key to unlocking the equity and debt required for implementation of this private sector-led wind project and realizing significant socioeconomic outcomes from the provision of cleaner, more reliable and affordable electricity.

The wind energy project will be developed near the Mediterranean coast, 15 kilometres east of Tangiers. The project involves the development, financing, construction and operation of a 120-MW wind power facility under an Independent Power Producers scheme authorized through a concession granted by the Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment. The project will see the construction of a 23-km transmission line and a substation to evacuate energy generated by the facility into the interconnected grid.

Following the approval, Alex Rugamba, Director of the African Development Bank’s Energy, Environment and Climate Change Department, noted, “For SEFA, this project is a double win as it involves clean energy production that will in turn spur economic growth. When finished, the Khalladi Wind Energy project will provide more reliable power, fewer power outages and greater scope for private sector growth in the project region. This grant is evidence of the Bank’s continued strong commitment to renewable energy investments in Morocco.” 

More information from the African Development Bank available under:
https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/sefa-grant-provides-key-support-for-morocco-wind-project-12737