Desertec Foundation - Morocco's renewable energy future

Morocco has turned its head to promote the resources of our kingdom. Our government is progressively implementing all the means that could enable people to have clean energy at an affordable price. I think that renewable energies are one of the best examples you can provide to show that mechanical engineering can be applied everywhere. I’m a mechanical engineering graduate student. And I’ve been studying for three years now at ENSEM Engineering school. Basically, I’m skilled in the conception of machines, this is what I’ll perform at work. Advancing humanity and peoples with technolgies, and mechanics. There is an Arabic adage that says, “to not fish for someone, but to teach him how to fish”. I believe if you build an irrigation system that will actually make crops grow, that is better than giving people food. And this, I believe mechanical engineering can do that anywhere. Mechanical engineering can be applied in any field. Being an engineer is like solving problems everyday. We are here to provide solutions to problems. And I try on a day-to-day basis to find some elegant solutions. ADEREE is a public institution whose aim is to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency in the country. Because we found out that on the Moroccan level we need a very good national agency, in terms of renewable energy and energy efficiency, because we’re very dependent on petroleum imports. That’s why renewable energy and energy efficiency have been set up as a priority on the highest level of the country. The Kingdom of Morocco is undergoing a renewable energy revolution. Under mandates from the King and government, the country is positioning itself to become a regional leader in the large-scale rollout of clean energy technologies. Morocco will break away from its current, and debilitating, reliance on imports for over 94% of its energy supply. By 2020, 42% of the Kingdom’s power production will come from its own domestic sources of renewable energy. As they say: "For the game to begin someone has to kick the ball first." So Morocco and MASEN has kicked the ball, and the game has started. A clear commitment by his highness the King of Morocco was basically the start of the game. This started with a very interesting vision of procuring 500 MW of solar energy, and procuring this by 2015. This will be a precedent for the North African region, with Morocco taking the flag and promoting renewables in North Africa. We as the Desertec Foundation, are following the discussion in Morocco for a long time. DESERTEC is a global concept, it describes a vision where energy security can lead to climate security. And activities like in Morocco and in many other countries are one piece of a puzzle. So I think Morocco can be an example for the rest of the world. Being a pioneer in renewable energy. Morocco continues to attract a lot of interest because it’s one of the most stable countries in the region. With the Arab Spring it’s been less affected and the economy continues to grow very well here, even better than some Southern European countries. As Morocco’s economy grows, so too does its appetite for energy. The kingdom’s citizens need power solutions that can meet this growing demand and allow them to enjoy newfound prosperity. Moroccan energy plans for wind, solar, hydro and bio-mass will not only drive the modernization of the economy and improve its energy independence, but also improve its citizens’ quality of life. Solutions are being implemented across the country to move the Kingdom onto a clean and prosperous path. Among them is the launch of an ambitious series of solar power plants in the Moroccan deserts of Ouarzazate. Concerning the objectives of our solar plans, we have decided to focus on one initial project. We’re starting with Ouarzazate with a first phase of 160 MW. That is to say, 500 MW for the end of 2015. With the first 160MW in 2014. The idea was to optimise the added value generated from this project. And in that sense, already in the case of Ouarzazat, concrete actions have already created good returns for the area of Ouarzazat and the inhabitants of the region. If in five to ten years we are considered as experts in matters of renewable energies, then I think we will have gained our prize. We are also there to train the engineers who want to be reconverted to the renewable and energy efficiency side. Because what is it to promote a law on how to build best, but not have the skilled workers and builders? Since technology can’t be from just one country, you often find yourself as an engineer on projects that international teams have been working on. I want to see such projects with Moroccans on the teams, not only foreign people. Not only would it improve the employment rate of people, but also such people would be lucky to have this experience, and maybe take it to another city and even another country that is in need, more than Morocco. Morocco’s clean power will also be needed to expand irrigation systems and desalinate water for use in the country’s arid regions. These newfound water sources will deliver the ingredient to turn wastelands into thriving centers of agriculture. Water will bring not only life to Moroccan lands, but with it the potential for new jobs, financial stability and food security. The national energy strategy has as an objective to create employment, to improve conditions of the Moroccan population in regards to access to energy and equally regarding employment. Today Morocco imports more than 94% of its primary energy. So Morocco is more than 90% dependent on exterior procurement. Within this framework, it’s very important to secure access to energy. Morocco today envisions on the horizon of 2020 a 14% hydro capacity, 14% solar capacity and 14% wind capacity. The Kingdom’s transition to renewables is already underway. One example of many is the wind farm near Tangier operated by Morocco’s National Office of Electricity. Since 2009, this 140MW farm has been delivering clean power to Moroccans. Among Africa’s largest wind farms; it is testament to Morocco’s vision of a clean energy future. During construction 350 workers were employed, reaching a point up to 600 workers. The priority has been given to local employment. So for the maintenance teams, the guards and the station custodians, the local villagers are all favoured. The park has a strength of 140 megawatts. It contributes 2.5 % to the total production of Morocco. On the horizon of 2020, we will have 42% renewable energies. It’s a national concern, what will be left for future generations. It’s not a matter of the energy ministry alone. And I think when you speak with kids, who are tomorrow’s leaders, this is something they are very cautious about and very concerned about. I’m currently performing my internship, not only to get my degree, but also to gain strong experience in an R&D department. I think that for now not many people have such an opportunity to attend even middle school or high school, not withstanding the fact of accessing university. And I really hope that with all the efforts that the government is putting on renewable energy resources this issue will be solved. With such natural resources that can be used into renewable energies, I think that we can rely on more than oil. This is more to me what a mechanical engineering discipline can stand for. Not only just machines, but every mechanism within life. Presented by the DESERTEC Foundation www.desertec.org