News

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

Al Akhawayn University students earned top honors at a recent international symposium on renewable energies.

The students, Asmae Berrada (‘14) and Aicha Slassi Sennou (‘14), spent August 26 to September 6 at the International Summer University on Energy 2013 (ISUenergy 2013), organized by Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and conducted in Falera, Switzerland. They were ranked first in the program among the 53 international Ph.D. and MS students from countries such as Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Extrait du Journal TF1 du 24/11/2013

Pour couvrir 40% de ses besoins d'électricité grâce aux énergies renouvelables (solaire, éolien, barrages) d'ici 2020, le Maroc se focalise désormais sur le parc éolien qui connait une expansion spectaculaire. Ainsi, pas moins de 130 éoliennes doivent être montées prochainement sur le site de Tarfaya, en plein désert.

Sahara Wind a pris part aux travaux de la 1ère édition du Symposium organisé conjointement par la FENELEC et la SMADER.

Cet évènement s'est tenu en marge du Salon ElecExpo, EneR Event & Tronica Expo 2013, le 21 Novembre 2013, à Casablanca. Ainsi, la modération de la session plénière a été confiée a Khalid Benhamou Directeur Général de Sahara Wind. Ce symposium portait sur le thème «Quelle stratégie de formation, de la recherche et du développement industriel pour un meilleur accompagnement de la dynamique des énergies renouvelables au Maroc?».

Sahara Wind at the "Greening Europe - European Policy Summit - Europe's energy outlook: Heading in the right direction?" November 7th 2013 Brussels, Belgium.

To compete in today’s tough global energy market, Europe needs to speak with one voice to current and potential suppliers, Gunther Oettinger, EU Commissioner for Energy, said at Friends of Europe’s 10th annual Energy Summit. Nonetheless, there is still a tendency to look at the issues purely on a national basis, said Philip Lowe, the European Commission Director General for Energy. His EU counterpart for Climate Action, Jos Delbeke, said that there has been some good progress in making climate change part of mainstream policy but Yvo de Boer, Global Advisor on Climate and Sustainable Development at KPMG, said: “At the moment, there is simply no political will to address climate change to the extent that is needed.

Sahara Wind at the 22nd World Energy Congress in Daegu, Korea

As part of its efforts to encourage representation from developing countries, the WEC Daegu 2013 Organizing Committee invited Sahara Wind to the 22nd World Energy Congress held on October 13-17 2013 in Daegu, Korea.

During the event, delegates engaged with the global energy community, addressing key issues on the energy, energy access and development agenda. Participants included government ministers, energy CEOs and respected analysts and researchers. The globalization of energy demand poses a number of challenges that are summed up in the concept of the “energy trilemma” by the World Energy Council, which is the sponsor of the Congress. Will there be enough energy to meet growing demand among both rich and poor nations? How can energy supplies be protected against disruptions? And how will efforts to mitigate climate change affect access to future energy sources?

The $6 trillion energy market will also be shaped by the rise of renewables and alternative fuels as well as development of new energy technologies. More than 6,000 participants at the 2013 Congress had an unprecedented opportunity to network with top global players. No other energy sector gathering brought together such a wide range of influential figures.

The invitation of Sahara Wind as part of the WEC Daegu 2013 Congress special Developing Countries Program was aimed at balancing regional participation and ensuring broad representation of both geographical regions and interests.

 Sahara Wind participe aux 1ères Assises Nationales de la R&D autour des Phosphates à Skhirat le 13 Septembre 2013.

Organisées sous le Haut Patronage de S.M le Roi Mohammed VI par le Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur, de la Recherche Scientifique et de la Formation des Cadres et le Groupe OCP celles-ci ont été marquées par la présence du Chef du Gouvernement et d'une délégation de dix ministres.

Les Premières Assises Nationales de la R&D autour des Phosphates ont clôturé leurs travaux au Palais des Congrès de Skhirat, par l’adoption d’une série de recommandations permettant de dresser un état des lieux de la R&D autour des Phosphates. Le diagnostic a concerné les infrastructures de recherche, les thématiques et travaux de recherche couverts et non couverts par la communauté scientifique nationale, ainsi que les ressources humaines et matérielles disponibles.

Sahara Wind project driving wind energy on the African continent: AfDB Study Examines the Role of Wind Energy in Africa’s Economic Growth

In its  new study entitled “Development of Wind Energy in Africa” the African Development Bank Examined the Role of Wind Energy in Africa’s Economic Growth. North Africa is, to date, the only part of the continent which has been able to create mechanisms designed to develop the market for this type of renewable energy drawn directly from wind. It is followed by the regions of East Africa and southern Africa respectively. It is envisaged that 16 projects, currently being implemented in various African countries, will generate a further capacity estimated at one Gigawatt.

In addition to this, the Sahara Wind project is expected to generate at least five Gigawatts of electricity, impacting Africa's wind energy perspectives significantly according to the report's experts. The African Development Bank is one of the financial institutions investing in the development of infrastructures on the continent.It emphasizes a need to mobilize further resources to develop the wind energy market. According to the report, this market has been identified as one of the principal catalysts of the socio-economic development in the continent.

Sahara Wind took part in the “Sustainable Development Solutions for the Mediterranean Region” conference convened by the University of Siena, in Pontigano (Italy), from 3 to 5 July, 2013.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UNSDSN), directed by Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs (Earth Institute, Columbia University), is an independent global network of research centers, universities and technical institutions to help find solutions for some of the world’s most pressing environmental, social and economic problems. The UNSDSN works with stakeholders including business, civil society, UN agencies and other international organizations to identify and share the best pathways to achieve sustainable development.