Genesis Morocco

Ban Ki Moon about Sustainable Energy in Davos

2012-01-29T11:35:00.001Z

Mr. Freedman, distinguished panellists, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great honour for me to open this very important forum on sustainable energy.

Sustainable energy is a key priority and a top priority for the United Nations and myself as Secretary-General, because it is central to everything we do, and central to everything we want to achieve.

By providing sustainable energy for all, we can revitalize economic growth, protect this Planet Earth, protect the environment and spread the benefits of development more equitably. This can be called a triple win.

As a boy, as I was growing up in Korea after the devastation of the Korean War, I studied by the light of a tiny oil lamp. Even until I became a freshman in college, I had to depend on this tiny oil lamp. I helped my mother stoke the cooking fire. We didn't have a clinic with refrigerated medicines in my village. And of course, we had no any conveniences like a refrigerator or fans or air conditioning.

But [in] my country, as it developed economically, we overcame energy poverty. I want, as Secretary-General of the United Nations, every girl and boy around the world would have access to electricity and access to decent electricity and energy. I do not want to see them repeat the same things which I did fifty or sixty years ago.

We must also reduce the risks of climate change by utilizing cleaner, more efficient energy.

Our Sustainable Energy for All Initiative is ambitious but achievable. We have three objectives to be achieved by 2030: the first objective –this is most important- that we should provide energy to all the people around the world; second, we should double the energy efficiency by 2030; and thirdly we should double the rate of use of renewable energy in the global energy mix. Currently, the rate is around 16 or 17 per cent globally. We have to lift this up to at least 30 per cent by 2030.

This will require a massive mobilization of all partners: the private sector, finance, governments, international organizations, philanthropists and civil societies.

We have developed an action agenda and hope that a full range of actors will be prepared to announce their commitments at the Rio+20 summit meeting in June this year.

Technologies exist and many more are on the way, owing to very smart investments by many visionary leaders and CEOs and Governments.

The real issue is political: Governments need to make sustainable energy a top priority. That is why the United Nations General Assembly has made for [the] coming five years sustainable energy as top priority. And they should put [it] above all, by putting in place the right policies and incentives.

Countries with the strongest policies tend to attract the most private investment.

Private investment is critical. We are working actively with global CEOs and investors to expand energy access, improve efficiency and ramp-up renewables. Our initiative will actively work with the private sector to generate a clean energy revolution.

Developing countries, especially the least developed, stand to benefit most. Access to modern energy will improve productivity, public health, and education. It can also enable countries to leapfrog the energy systems of the past.

We need to pay special attention to Africa, which has great potential for renewables.

Science and economics tell us we need to make the transition to clean energy as quickly as possible.

Phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies is an important part of that equation, and was endorsed by the G20 Summit meeting. But we must do so in a careful, gradual manner. We cannot build a sustainable, green economy on the backs of the poorest and most vulnerable people.

And of course, we are all concerned about corruption in the exploitation of natural resources. That is why accountability is a core principle of my initiative. All commitments will be transparent and monitored.

Sustainable Energy For All is not an abstract dream. It is a real possibility, and indeed a necessity, if we are to build the future we want.

And I thank you for your commitment, your leadership and your vision.

Source : http://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=5829
Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Clean Tech Has Reached the Mass Deployment Stage, Investors See That

2012-01-24T19:16:00.000Z

By Stephen Lacey

A new debate is picking up within the clean energy industry: Is the sector facing a crisis? Or is it still on an upward curve?

The bankruptcy of Solyndra and the political wrangling over the Department of Energy’s loan guarantee program have heightened the debate, causing people to ask if there are deeper troubles below the surface. That, combined with a shift in the venture capital community away from early-stage investments, is raising concerns.

Are they founded? Yes and no. But it would a stretch to call this a crisis.

Earlier this week, the think tank Third Way released a report called “Nothing Ventured: The Crisis in Clean Tech Investment,” which calls the shift away from early-stage VC investments a “quiet but severe crisis” that “suggest stark consequences” for the future of the industry.

The report’s goal — to raise awareness about the need for VCs to make bolder moves in cleantech — is certainly an important one. But right after it was released, the latest figures for venture investments in clean energy showed a 73% jump in Q3 over last year’s figures, which showed that “confidence in cleantech continues,” according to Ernst and Young, the firm tracking the figures.

Yes, a lot of that money is going into later stage rounds for more mature companies. But as Ernst and Young Cleantech Director Jay Spencer explains, that’s because “cleantech has reached its deployment phase,” making new sets of investments far more capital intensive than in the past. In the energy market, you don’t make a dent until you get to the billion and trillion dollar scale.

“VC Money does not indicate the success of this industry,” said Jigar Shah, CEO of the Carbon War Room, in an interview with Climate Progress. “There is a huge pipeline of projects and technologies that are now scaling and will continue to drive down costs in the next decade. We are already approaching $2 a watt installed for solar PV — when you get there, you’ll be able to supply up to 30% of global electricity needs cost-competitively.” (For a detailed talk with Shah on deployment strategies, listen to our interview on the Climate Progress podcast.)

Third Way sees things quite differently:

If a sector that helps drive American economic growth loses 26% of its value — $22 billion — and sees a 26% decline in new companies in just three years, would it be a crisis?

It should be. Unfortunately, this decline is happening today to U.S. venture capital, the sector that financed the creation of such iconic American companies as Intel, FedEx, Apple and Google.

The collapse has hit the emerging clean energy sector particularly hard, with investments spiraling down 44% in the last year alone. And it’s happening at a time when the U.S. is locked in an intense competition with China and Europe to win the $2.3 trillion global clean energy market. Yet almost no one in the nation’s capital is ringing alarm bells about venture’s demise.
Yet in the real world, it’s hard to see this collapse. Further proving strong interest from the venture community, famed venture capitalist Vinod Khosla recently announced that his firm, Khosla Ventures, had raised a $1.05 billion fund, with half of that money going into a broad range of early and late-stage cleantech companies. When the news broke, Khosla Ventures issued a statement explaining that the firm “does not anticipate any change in strategy.”

However, as someone who touts a “Black Swan” approach to investing, Khosla believes that radical innovation is needed to change the energy sector: “What matters are exponential innovations,” he said in a recent speech. “The only way to get there is radical innovation. There is no question you can compete with fossil fuels with renewables and be cheaper.”

According to the Third Way report, the drop in early stage venture investments will severely hamper our ability to achieve exponential innovations:

In 2010 there were more late-stage deals than early-stage deals in clean tech—by a margin of 2 to 1—for the first time since 1999…. Investments in early stages of new technologies are particularly important. This is the point when companies have proven concepts and perhaps a small handful of customers, but they are not yet making a profit. Starved for cash, they cannot implement a business plan that reaches profitability without outside investment.
But calling this a “crisis” assumes that that only exponential technologies will transform the energy system. In fact, experience shows that only technologies with decades of experience in the field attract the type of asset financing needed for large-scale project deployment. With renewables representing roughly 50% of all global electricity capacity additions last year, the deployment data suggests that we are in anything but a crisis.

Shah recently called for the repeal of $380 billion in energy subsidies across both the renewable and fossil energy sectors, a move that he says would level the playing field and cut unneeded expenditures. And he believes that after 2016, the tax credits for solar and some other technologies may no longer be needed due to continued drops in the cost of developing projects:

I think that VC investments are an important thing. But all this nonsense about a crisis is based on the false assumption that we need these dramatic improvements to make an impact. The facts on the ground don’t back that up. We have this huge pipeline of projects coming down the pike.
Of course, many people are concerned that the bankruptcy of Solyndra and Beacon Power are symptomatic of the health of the industry. While much legitimate criticism can be made about the DOE’s management of the loan guarantee program, the reality is that some bankruptcies were expected and budgeted for. And we probably haven’t seen the last of the failures from the loan guarantee program, or elsewhere.

However, the bankruptcies of individual companies don’t prove a “crisis” in the slightest. For every company that fails, many more are thriving throughout the clean energy supply chain — selling products, shipping materials, raising private financing, and deploying projects.

Dismissing the importance of R&D and early-stage VC investments would be dangerous. And we can’t ignore the political backlash on the federal level that is causing market uncertainty. But the environmental and economic macro-trends pushing this industry forward haven’t changed.

The path to wide-scale clean energy deployment is neither easy nor linear — saying that the clean energy industry is facing a crisis isn’t accurate.

This post was originally published on Climate Progress.

Source: Clean Technica http://s.tt/13Jc5

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Heading for PNB-NAPEO Second Edition

2012-01-14T14:56:00.000Z

I will be attending PNB-NAPEO, a 3 days conference in Marrackech this coming Monday. It will be PNB NAPEO's second conference in the Maghreb region, the first one in 2010 having been hosted by Algeria.

Following Pres Obama's historic discourse in Cairo, the U.S State Dept actively engaged on different levels the Arab world's civil societies, the framework being the Partners for a New Beginning initiative, a joint venture with the Aspen Institute.

In December 2010 at the U.S.-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference, the U.S. Department of State announced the launch of the U.S.-North Africa Partnership for Economic Opportunity (NAPEO), a new regional public-private partnership that enhances the network of entrepreneurs and business leaders in the United States and the Maghreb. PNB-NPAO is centered on investment and business opportunities both for U.S and Maghreb entrepreneurs.

It is consistent with a policy of openness towards the region's peoples that started with Pres Obama's term, and one can tell that the Cairo bet paid off. Leaders come and go as the Arab spring demonstrated, but the people remain.

It is therefore better, much better, to light a candle than to curse the darkness, better to have the American and Arab peoples engage each others than for U.S policy makers to remain confined to halls of power of here and there, even more so when these halls have shown themselves to be only halls of vacuum siphoning the regions wealth and vast human potential and envenoming the relations with the West, to serve their own agenda's.

There, I made my political point, even if this blog is not geared towards politics. I just couldn't help it, I have a feeling that there has been a lot of mutual misunderstanding and it has to be remediated to.

Hot on my list will be networking for and representing Morocco Tomorrow as I am now actively engaged in that organization who's agenda is furthering internationally the cause of Morocco and Moroccans through citizenship, equality, dignity and progress.

I will also be reporting on any item of interest for renewable energy and sustainable development that might arise.

Last but definitely not least, PNB-NAPEO will be a meeting place not only for the U.S and Moroccan movers, but also for all of the Maghreb countries in the wake of the Arab spring. It will be an opportunity for me to meet our neighbors, getting to know them and figure out what we can do together. It would be an understatement to say that there is a lot of catching up to do in order to foster regional relations, and bright new perspectives on the horizon.

Special thanks to Hajji G. from the U.S State Dept for making this possible.

Morocco Tomorrow : http://moroccotomorrow.org

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

CSP Industry Insight

2012-01-07T16:43:00.000Z

Theses graphs are interesting, they show Morocco taking about 2% of the global projected capacity for 2010. However what is really impressive to ponder is that the global CSP projected capacity worldwide for 2010 stood at 1292MW and that Morocco is aiming at implementing 2500MW of capacity by 2020. That mean more than double the 2010 worldwide global capacity in less than 10 years.

The only pondering elements is that it is not a 100% sure that all the capacity to be developed in Morocco will be CSP based, photovoltaics may take a share of that.

What is for certain is that CSP is cheaper on the whole and that the Moroccan state is parsimonious with the hard earned foreign currency it invests. So yes, CSP, precisely parabolic through should take the lion's share.

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Investment in African Renewable Energy Reaches $3.6 Billion in 2011

2012-01-07T16:20:00.000Z

The Dawn of Africa

By John C.K. Daly of Oilprice.com

First, the bad news.

Although Africa has vast fossil and renewable energy sources, only twenty percent of its population has direct access to electricity and in some rural areas, four out of five people are completely without power. According to the UN, over 600 million Africans currently do not have access to electric power. A depressing 70 percent of Sub-Saharan Africa’s population is living without access to clean and safe energy for their basic needs such as cooking, lighting and heating, making energy poverty among the most urgent issues facing Africa. Worldwide, more than 1.4 billion people worldwide have no access to electricity, and 1 billion more only have intermittent access.

Over 2.5 billion people, almost half of humanity, rely on traditional biomass – wood, coal, charcoal, or animal waste to cook their meals and heat their homes, exposing themselves and their families to smoke and fumes that damage their health and kill nearly two million people a year. More than 95 percent of these people are either in sub-Saharan Africa or developing Asia.

The good news?

According to the Managing Director of Nigeria’s Bank of Industry (BOI), Evelyn Oputu, total investments in renewable energy in Africa rose from $750 million in 2004 to $3.6 billion in 2011. To put this in a global context, worldwide investment in renewable energy has risen from $33 billion in 2004 to $211 billion in 2011.

And the future?

According to a report issued in August 2011 by Frost & Sullivan entitled "Mega Trends in Africa: A bright vision for the growing continent," investment in renewable power in Africa is set to grow from the 2011 total of $3.6-billion in 2010 to $57-billion by 2020 ", a staggering 1,583 percent increase in nine short years. According to the document, "The key growth sectors will be wind power, solar power, geothermal power and foreign direct investment (FDI) into energy and power infrastructure."

The reason for the spectacular projections? Africa’s combination of a massive unmet demand, including remote communities, allied to an abundance of renewable power potential in the form of solar, wind and geothermal potential. To give but one example, Only seven percent of Africa’s hydropower capacity has been developed up to now.

Africa is not yet locked into the inefficient, oft-polluting infrastructure of many Western countries. Accordingly, Africa with modern efficient technologies could build a renewable energy infrastructure that could bypass the inefficient, fossil fuel-centered energy infrastructure systems of the developed world.

Modest starts in renewable energy have already begun across the continent. Wind power projects in Africa are planned or under way in Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia, and Tanzania – including Kenya’s 0.3 gigawatt Lake Turkana project and 0.7 gigawatt of capacity under construction in Morocco, while Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda all have existing biomass power capacity or plans for future development.

Solar? South Africa has its planned solar park in Upington, intended to contribute 5,000 megawatts to the national electrical grid, while North Africa’s Desertec is the largest solar power project ever conceived, designed at a potential cost of $500 billion to provide a significant portion of the electricity needs of participating countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and up to 15 per cent of Europe’s electricity needs by 2050.

Africa’s ambitions have the support of the United Nations, where in 2010 the General Assembly unanimously endorsed a resolution designating 2012 as "The International Year of Sustainable Energy for All." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has set three inter-linked objectives to support the goal of achieving "Sustainable Energy for All" by 2030, which are ensuring universal access to modern energy services, doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

The UN Sustainable Energy for All incorporates a number of initiatives focusing on Africa, including World Bank Group’s Lighting Africa, the Paris-Nairobi Climate Initiative, the Africa-European Union Energy Partnership, and the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, as well as the EU’s decision to make access to sustainable energy a development priority through its "Agenda for Change." A number of countries, including South Africa, are also leading the way with national initiatives.

But these initiatives are relatively recent and need financial support to prosper. It was only in September 2010 that African and European leaders launched the Africa-EU Renewable Energy Cooperation Program (RECP) at the First High-Level Meeting of the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) in Vienna.

AEEP’s agenda is nothing if not ambitious, as its targets on renewable energy to be reached by 2020 include 10,000 megawatts of hydropower facilities, 5,000 megawatts of wind power capacity, 500 megawatts of solar energy capacity and tripling the capacity of other renewables, such as geothermal, and modern biomass.

The downside to this picture? Three things – the need for massive amounts of investment capital, a problem attendant to massive amounts of cash – corruption, and the continent’s changing political landscape, which is already impacting the Desertec North African solar initiative as the Arab Spring roils the south coast of the Mediterranean.

But both the need and potential are there – all that are currently lacking to make the future predictions a reality are cash and political will.

Sourced : http://www.oilprice.com

Photograph by Halicz P

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Bacteria Sensors Could Halve the Cost of Desalinated Water

2012-01-07T15:57:00.001Z

The cost of desalinated water could be cut by almost half using new wireless bacteria sensors, according to the technology’s creators.

Researchers from the University of Valencia are leading a €3.5m European project to design intelligent networks that can optimise the operation of sewage treatment and water-desalination plants.

The Hydrobionets team from the university’s Institute of Robotics and ICT says that the technology could reduce the cost of desalinated water by 45 per cent and reduce energy consumption by 74 per cent.

The aim of the three-year project is to develop the world’s first interconnected wireless network of biosensors that can control bacterial activity by determining the ideal amount of biocides to inject into the water.

Hydrobionets project co-ordinator Baltasar Berefull said that the main goal of the initiative was to fundamentally increase the productivity and reduce the costs of water purification.

‘This would be done thanks to a higher durability of osmosis’ membranes — in the case of the desalination — and a higher durability of bioreactors in the sewage-treatment plants, on the one hand, and thanks to a more accurate use of chemical products.’

Better management of the facilities would be possible because different processes could be accessed and visualised more efficiently, he added.

Other members of the project include the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and researchers from several Swedish, Hungarian, Greek and British research centres, as well as the company Acciona Agua.

Sourced : http://www.theengineer.co.uk

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

FloDesign Wind Turbines, The Vestas Killer

2012-01-06T23:24:00.000Z

Personal Notes : See for yourself, these guys make no secret of their technological feat, because its all patented. Either they're on VESTAS shopping list or they're going to cost them a lot of business in the future. By the way VESTAS shares are down 19% just in past 2 days. VESTAS rates SELL. Keyword : disturbing technology, if all the stuff in this video computes then VESTAS and pretty much everyone else's technology relying on large blades is obsolete. period.

As for FLODESIGN, expect to hear about them very soon, they've just raised $40 millions of capital from scratch in 2010. They need a website though...

Article below by Wade Roush

Wilbraham, MA-based FloDesign Wind Turbine, whose radical jet-engine-like design for a new form of wind turbine has whisked it from the world of student business plan competitions to national prominence in under three years, says it has raised a big chunk of new cash and installed a new chief executive.

In an announcement today, FloDesign said it closed a $34.5 million Series B funding round in December. The backers include California-based Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield and Byers—the firm that supplied most of FloDesign’s Series A round—as well as three new investors, Goldman Sachs, Technology Partners, and VantagePoint Venture Partners. The latest round brings FloDesign’s total funding to about $40 million, not counting an $8.3 million Department of Energy grant awarded to the company last fall.

FloDesign also said that Stanley Kowalski, the company’s founder and original CEO, has taken the position of vice president, and that the CEO role has been filled by newcomer Lars Andersen. A 20-year veteran of the power generation and renewable energy industries, Andersen was previously president of the China operations of Vestas, the Danish firm that is the world’s largest manufacturer of wind turbines.

Andersen’s job will be to manage FloDesign’s transition from “a research and development organization to a leading renewable energy manufacturing company,” the firm said in its announcement. It’s commonplace, when manfacturing startups are nearing the commercialization stage and require more capital, for investors and directors to look for a new chief executive with more business development experience. That appears to be what’s happening at FloDesign, although neither Kowalski nor Andersen, who is traveling today, were available to comment on the transition.

Andersen trained as an engineer at the the Engineering College of Aarhus in Denmark and has held positions at ABB Power Generation in Switzerland and engineering consulting firm Black and Veatch in the US. In a prepared statement, Andersen said “I am very pleased with the prominent venture investors who are backing this company. It will be an exciting journey to build a world‐class company applying leading edge technology in the wind sector.”

FloDesign remains secretive about its wind-turbine designs—it hasn’t shown off its latest turbines in public, and the company’s website is password-protected. (A staffer once told me this was largely due to fears of intellectual property theft among partners at Kleiner Perkins.) But if the company has stayed true to its early design concepts, then its turbines feature tube- or cage-like enclosures that supposedly make them more efficient at extracting energy from wind than conventional open-fan turbines. The best open-fan turbines can convert only about 59 percent of the kinetic energy in wind into electricity, a phenomenon known as the Betz Limit.

Sourced : http://www.xconomy.com/

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Milestone - Morocco Seeks Bids for 850 MW Wind Farm Plan

2012-01-06T21:42:00.000Z

Personal Notes : This is a BIG development in wind energy. In June 2010 ONE announced an Integrated Wind Energy program. The program was launched at the occasion of His Majesty's King Mohamed VI inauguration of the Tangiers I Wind Park, the largest in Africa and subsequently a Wind Initiative aiming at reaching being 2000MW by 2020 was set in motion.

Suddenly there's much more substance to it than white papers. You can tell that renewable energy in all its forms has become a top priority for the state as it seeks to cut down its dependency on fossil fuels and the large dent it is making in the country's budget.

If you couple that with the 2500MW in the pipeline for solar in the same time-frame, Morocco is the De Facto leader in Africa as to the scope and size of its renewable energy strategy. Even better, the 5.5GW planed increase in renewable energy capacity (excluding hydro) position Morocco as a leader internationally and a one of the very first developing countries on the path toward becoming a sustainable green economy.

The rapid succession of the Solar Program in 2009 and of the Wind Initiative in 2010 have all the hallmarks of one visionary ruler. No one but the King has so much pull in Morocco, or the push to make things happen so fast.

The full ONE Integrated Wind Program presentation can be found here (PDF Format)

(Reuters) - Morocco's state-run power utility, ONE, on Friday invited companies to submit expressions of interest in five wind farm projects with a total power generation capacity of 850 megawatts in the energy-importing country.

ONE said will take bids until March 2 from firms or consortia for "the development, design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance" of the five projects.

Bidders who pass the preliminary, expression-of-interest phase will be invited to bid in an international tender, which will be launched in the second quarter of this year.

"The 850 megawatt wind farm project will be structured under a 'build, own, operate and transfer' scheme," ONE said in a statement.

Renewable energy is seen as vital to a country that has no oil or gas of its own and aims to diversify its exports to an energy-hungry trade partner, the European Union. ONE also needs to provide for a domestic electricity demand that grows by an annual 6 percent.

The project will be realized under a public-private partnership with ONE, the Energy Investments Company and King Hassan Fund, all owned by the state.

The tender also includes the separate procurement and maintenance of a 200 megawatt wind farm.

Morocco aims to tap its wind potential to raise power generation from wind farms to 2,000 megawatts by 2020 from 280 megawatts currently at a total cost of 31.5 billion dirhams ($3.6 billion).

"Our studies show that we can generate up to 25,000 megawatts from wind power alone," a government official said.

Morocco has embarked on one of the world's biggest renewable energy development plans involving solar and wind power.

The solar power plan is worth $9 billion in investment and will include five power stations to account for 38 percent of the country's installed power generation capacity by 2020.

Together, the wind and solar energy development schemes should reduce Morocco's annual imports of fossil fuels by 2.5 million tonnes of oil equivalent and prevent emissions of 9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

How CISCO wants to be the Smarts in Smart Grid

2012-01-02T19:56:00.004Z

A follow up on a previous post featuring videos about how IT firms such as CISCO, Intel and IBM are jockeying to be essential actors of smart grid implementations worldwide. This time another video by CISCO, you can tell their ambitions at being at the core of future smart grid technology is not going anywhere. Simply put, CISCO wants the smart grid to be IP based. It makes a lot of sense, IP infrastructure has proven both resilient and remarkably suitable for mass deployment. Just a thought, any electronic device in the near future could have IP and networking capability on top of their native MAC addresses. Domotics are going to be big in the coming decade or two as this built in capability in hardware will make it that much easier to network and administer them locally or remotely.

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Developing world must lead on green economic policy

2012-01-02T15:14:00.004Z

Personal Notes : Very interesting piece here by the Science and Development Network. The point that since a major part of development in renewable energy will take place in the developing countries they must be more assertive is very valid. In shaping the common agenda of green economy, in the fight against global warming, and in defending their own interests through making sure that patents protecting renewable energy technology and fees associated with them do not become an obstacle to mass adoption in our parts of the world, the developing world has got a major role to play.

That precise last aspect is going to be interesting to follow, how are developed nations weight in the money their private sector could make in levying high fees for technology versus lowering gains but speeding technology adoption worldwide in the face of a pressing global warming issue.

So far developing nations have benefited the most from China, which helped cut drastically the costs for photovoltaic panels. If it wasn't for them we would still consider such items as luxury items and that doesn't make sense. The solar trade war the U.S is waging against the Chinese photovoltaic industry in order to protect its domestic producers is lacking in judgment in that regard. But that's just me being a liberal, I do not believe in sheltering companies that cannot compete in a global market.

Incidentally if the 50 to 250% hike in tariffs the U.S Dept of Commerce is considering imposing on Chinese solar panels do indeed go ahead, there is no denying that firstly it is going to be bad for solar in the U.S itself and that is regrettable since it is the 2nd largest carbon dioxide emitter worldwide, but also that it might just bring about the Chinese to consider the developing world as a more attractive market for their panels since we are considering no such trade barrier, and in the process boost our own solar sector.

I concede the point that an absence of policy doesn't constitute policy, but then again Morocco does not produce solar panels, not yet that is. What would make a lot of sense for now is lowering the tariffs for solar panels from China or anywhere else inasmuch as possible in order to grow our domestic solar capacity. In 2009 I called for a 25 years moratorium on solar panels, digital meters and other equipment that go along with the installation of solar capacity at homeowner level, coupling that with low tariffs on imports makes sense as a coordinated approach to reach energy self sufficiency. And that just might be policy after all.

Article below by SCIDEV Network.

Yet more failure to make much progress on climate change in Durban means that developing countries must exert stronger political pressure.

For three years in a row, there has been a disappointing end to international meetings that should have agreed on the steps needed to prevent the human and ecological disasters likely to result from a failure to limit man-made climate change.

The stage was set in Copenhagen two years ago, when the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 15) — widely but perhaps misleadingly billed by environmentalist groups as 'the last chance to save the planet' — ended in disarray.

Following an equally disappointing meeting in Cancun, Mexico (COP 16), last year, expectations were low for the outcome of this year's meeting, which took place in Durban, South Africa (COP 17), earlier this month. The financial crisis that has hit industrialised countries over the past two years further lowered expectations, pushing climate change far down their political agendas.

There was, therefore, little surprise that the Durban meeting failed to make much headway, beyond agreement to start negotiations on a new agreement for 2015, to come into effect in 2020.

But the message of Durban was clear for climate change and other sustainability targets. A global transition to a green economy is unlikely to take place through voluntary agreement. It will require strong political leadership, and this must now come from developing countries — emerging economies in particular — which have much to gain from achieving sustainable growth.

Technologies are available

The technical aspects of this transition are relatively easy to define (and technologies such as bamboo charcoal were on display in Durban). The way forward is through development and deployment of clean energy systems.

Solar energy is the obvious contender here. And the developing world, where most countries enjoy significantly more sunshine than those in temperate regions, are best placed to benefit from these technologies, provided that innovation and mass production brings down the costs of equipment such as photovoltaic panels. In the case of large-scale projects, such as Desertec, countries may even profit financially by exporting solar energy.

Other technologies also need to be introduced. In agricultural production, for example, carbon emissions could be reduced by techniques such as low-tillage cultivation, and for house building there are many opportunities to cut the energy used in constructing and maintaining homes.

And creating a green economy does not depend only on meeting the technical challenges of mitigating climate change. Equally important is the need to introduce food production techniques (such as biological pest control) that can boost agricultural output while ensuring there is sustainable and equitable use of natural resources and ecosystems.

Political and economic obstacles

So the technical advances needed to build a green economy — as well as the scientific research required to bring new technologies to fruition — are relatively easy to identify and develop. Indeed significant progress has been achieved since the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro almost 20 years ago, as is likely to become clear at next year's Rio+20 summit, to be held in the same city.

The stumbling block, as the Durban meeting illustrated dramatically, lies in the political and economic interests that stand in the way. Those who represent these interests appear to argue that 'business as usual' — taking signals from the market alone — will be sufficient to lead the world on a path towards long-term sustainability from enlightened self-interest. But the spectacular failure of this strategy in the case of the global financial industry carries a sobering message.

Take, for example, the question of intellectual property rights. Many of the new energy technologies have been produced in the laboratories of the developed world, which inevitably seek to exploit them for financial advantage. But the need for them remains greatest in the poorest parts of the world, which are often unable to pay high licensing fees.

Attempts to lower these fees have, so far, had only minimal success, and no progress on this front was achieved in Durban.

Case for social equity

All this suggests that stronger political action from the developing world (with backing from sympathetic countries in the developed world) will be needed to create the conditions that allow a green economy to flourish.

A strong case can be made on the grounds of social equity. As Sunita Narain, director of the Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi, India, has persuasively argued, equity suggests that those countries largely responsible for creating the climate change problem should take the biggest share of responsibility for finding a solution (and providing the resources for doing so).

Enlightened self-interest will be needed, too. Countries such as Brazil and India are already experiencing the social and environmental fallout of unfettered economic growth. The more severe the consequences, the more they will realise that their future wellbeing depends on pursuing a different growth paradigm to that in the developed world.

The political will — and capability — to translate sustainability goals into effective actions must be the priority for all countries. For emerging economies, in particular, which are becoming increasingly powerful actors on the global stage, it needs to stay not only near the top of their political agendas as they prepare for next June's meeting in Rio, but also for many years to come.

Sourced : http://www.scidev.net/en/

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

World Future Energy Summit 2012, 16-19 January in Abu Dhabi

2012-01-02T13:54:00.002Z

Personal Notes : Its a big event with over 26,000 attendees, including 3,000 delegates, 650 exhibiting companies and 20 national pavilions. Morocco is attending as well, represented by ADEREE, the national agency for the development of renewable energy and NAREVA, a private renewable energy concern owned by ONA, the North African Omnium.

The list of exhibitors is a who's who of companies vying to make business in the MENA region in the different technologies pertaining to renewable energies. There is a total of $4 billion of renewable projects on show this year at WFES.

Article below by Daniel Canty on Jan 2, 2012

Photovoltaic power and wind farm projects will be showscased at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi.

The combined value of renewable energy projects confirmed for the Project Village at the 2012 World Future Energy Summit has reached more than US$4 billion, it has been confirmed.

Those projects are on top of the large-scale investments in renewable energy under development by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted renewable energy company and host of WFES, and other companies exhibiting at the summit in January.

Twenty five projects, spanning photovoltaic power, wind energy, solar thermal, waste-to-energy, concentrated solar power and other technologies, have already confirmed for the Project Village, which highlights selected projects from MENA countries, India and other international markets.

Introduced at WFES 2011 as a business and networking platform for project owners, developers and solutions providers, the Project Village complements a growing pipeline of renewable energy initiatives – from the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant Shams 1, located in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region, to the 1,000-megawatt London Array wind farm.

WFES Exhibition Director Naji El Haddad said: “The increasing interest in the Project Village component of the summit demonstrates the success of WFES as a marketplace for technology suppliers, investors and other stakeholders committed to the realization of clean energy.

“Through the Project Village, we bring together the decision makers that can action real progress on existing partnerships and agree new collaborations. Confirmations for the Project Village for 2012 indicate the growing involvement of the private sector in the renewable energy space and reflect Abu Dhabi’s leadership in developing renewable projects in the Middle East and overseas markets.”

Countries represented at the Project Village so far include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, India, South Africa, Sudan, the UK and US.

Supported by IRENA and held in association with Ernst & Young and Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the initiative highlights both new and planned developments, helping to source technology, secure financing and enter into business partnerships.

El Haddad said: “Five years after the first WFES, the Summit is now established at the centre of the global renewable energy industry. That’s the reality as we prepare for the 2012 edition of WFES. With another 10 projects expected to participate, the value of developments within the Project Village for 2012 may easily surpass US$4 billion.”

Flagship projects already confirmed for the Project Village include a 200-megawatt wind farm under development on the Gulf of Suez, led by Egypt’s New and Renewable Energy Authority; a 160-megawatt solar power plant by ACWA Power of Saudi Arabia; and the US$400 million Shams Ma’an photovoltaic power plant under way in Jordan.

Now in its fifth year, the World Future Energy Summit is the world’s foremost annual meeting committed to promoting advancement of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the water and waste sectors.

The annual summit engages political, business, finance, academic and industry leaders to drive innovation, business and investment opportunities in response to the growing need for sustainable energy.

On the theme Powering Sustainable Innovation, WFES 2012 will stage both a high-level conference and exhibition, with companies from all over the world promoting their latest products and services.

Over 26,000 attendees, including 3,000 delegates, 650 exhibiting companies and 20 national pavilions, are expected to participate in the summit.

To be held under the patronage of H.H General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and hosted by Masdar, the World Future Energy Summit 2012 runs from January 16-19 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

Sourced : http://www.utilities-me.com

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Green Offices, This one is slightly different !

2012-01-01T19:31:00.008Z

Offices or Architects Selga & Cano. Click on Images to enlarge. Lightbox now implemented !

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

World's largest solar plant powers up, with some issues...

2012-01-01T11:50:00.001Z

Spanish venture is as big as 210 football pitches and has 600,000 mirrors. But there's a dark side

BY ALASDAIR FOTHERINGHAM 01/01/2012

Just under a month ago, on an empty mountain plateau in Andalusia, the last of 600,000 parabolic mirrors were connected, and Andasol, the world's largest solar power station, became operational. It is, as it glints in the Spanish sun, a shining example – literally – of what renewable energy offers.

Big almost beyond belief, it is powerful, clean and looks unlike any power station you could ever imagine. Spread over terrain which covers the equivalent of 210 football pitches, there is nothing to see behind the security fences and drainage ditches but interminable lines of gleaming, eerily silent, parabolic mirrors. They gyrate simultaneously to follow the sun's path through the sky – for all the world like an enormous Star Wars android army awaiting orders from above to destroy the local populace.

The bleak, empty flatlands of the Guadix plateau, 30 miles from Granada, were chosen by the backers of Andasol, a joint venture by four German companies, as the location for their €350m (£293bn) investment because, at 1,100 metres above sea level, Guadix's atmosphere is clearer and less turbulent than lower altitudes. Purely because of that, it captures more solar energy than the entire Saudi Arabian peninsula.

Other plus points include an ample underground spring system, which supplies water for the turbines, as well as 2,000 hours of sunlight per annum. And if a conveniently close high-voltage power line was an indispensable factor, so too was the degree of local government support. For all these reasons, if solar power is going to work anywhere, it's going to work here. But there are clouds on the horizon.

When Rainer Kistner, Andasol's director, talks about business prospects, he can find little cause for celebration. The source of his woes are the so-called feed-in tariffs, the indirect government subsidy which acts as the financial lifeblood for renewable energy projects. They were slashed by half last week in the UK, and, Kistner fears, they face equally dismal prospects in Spain, too.

"In the future, we know that tariffs will go down. Dramatically," Kistner gloomily predicts. "It cannot affect existing power plants" – such as Andasol – "but the government has to give some sort of guarantee to the investors. It can't say it'll pay so many euros per kilowatt hour... for the next 25 years and two years later say 'Sorry, but we'll give you only half of this'."

Spanish and UK solar energy are not alone in facing an imminent crisis. Globally, renewable energy is on the retreat, to the point where last month the Ernst & Young accountancy firm warned that, should the eurozone debt crisis worsen, a climate funding gap of $45bn (£29bn) worldwide could emerge by 2015.

Even if government cuts do not deepen, which is unlikely, the Ernst & Young report claimed that a gap of $22.5bn on investment in renewable energy and subsidies is likely to emerge across 10 leading world economies in less than four years. Among them is the UK where the shortfall is estimated to be $5bn, while in Spain – effectively confirming Kistner's fears – it would be $6bn.

"Continuing economic uncertainty is pushing a low-carbon economy further out of reach," said Juan Costa Climent, Ernst & Young's global climate analyst. And the International Energy Agency's chief economist, Fatih Birol, warned recently in the Spanish newspaper El País that "renewable energies are going through a very difficult period. Countries are cutting subsidies to reduce the [public] deficit. And that is legitimate, but it will have long-term implications."

Andasol's Kistner recognises that renewal energy subsidies have been part of the political discussion on how to reduce Spain's deficit, but he points a finger at the "big electrical companies who would like to lay the blame on renewable energy companies for the increase in price. They've already reduced the tariff for photovoltaic solar energy. The Spanish government right now is nearly bankrupt. And we are living under laws from when the situation was healthy. Our plant should not be affected, but I'm worried about new projects. In a completely liberalised market, there would never be any chance for a new [electricity-producing] technology because the risks are too high."

The real victim of these cuts and the blame games between the electrical companies, as ever, is the environment. While countries such as Canada abandoned the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions last week, Andasol's production alone prevents nearly 500,000 tons of CO2 from being pumped into the atmosphere per annum. And while some media reports say Andasol's output of 150 megawatts is relatively modest, it still provides enough energy for a city of half a million inhabitants.

Part of the explanation for Andasol's high output is that, rather than using the better-known photovoltaic solar energy system, which directly creates electrical current, its linear solar concentrators in the mirrors absorb the heat. The heat is then transferred and thermally stored in some 30,000 tons of salt – heat which can keep the electricity-producing steam turbines turning for up to eight hours after sunset.

"The challenge for most renewable energy sources is that you have to provide electricity whenever the end- consumer needs it," says Kistner. "A photovoltaic solar power needs the sun, but if you want to watch a football game at 10pm or cook a meal you don't care about that. And storing electricity, rather than storing solar heat, like our power station does, is very expensive."

Given the relentless series of government cuts, it is hardly surprising that those companies still keen to invest in renewables are looking further afield. In North Africa, for example, an international venture called Desertec Industrial Initiative has recently announced plans for a Sahara-wide, €400bn solar energy project, starting in the region of Ouarzazate in Morocco in 2015.

Desertec's plans could produce 15 per cent of Europe's electricity by 2050, managing director Paul van Son told the news agency Reuters last month. Space – vital for thermal solar plants which could dwarf even somewhere like Andasol – is hardly lacking in the Sahara, either. According to Desertec, it receives as much solar energy in six hours as the entire world uses in a year. "It's interesting, and there are definitely locations that are better than here," Kistner says, "even if the huge political projects take a lot of time. Ultimately, in any case, there is no other choice but renewable energies."

However, Kistner says the companies behind Andasol are very nervous about future projects because of their concerns about the ebbing tide of government feed-in tariffs for renewables. While the cuts continue, those concerns can only increase.

Sourced : http://www.independent.co.uk

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

The $2Bn Ouarzazate Solar Plant in Morocco, Why ORASCOM CI is going to win

2011-12-20T19:44:00.005Z

Naguib Sawiris, Head of Orascom Telecoms

Ok, the results for this international tender are due late January.

For recap, here are the 4 groups that made it to the shortlist from an initial pool of 180 companies.

1) Abeinsa ICI, Abengoa Solar, Mitsui et Abu Dhabi NEC ;
2) ENEL et ACS SCE
3) International Company for Water and Power (ACWA), Aries IS et TSK EE
4) ORASCOM CI, Solar Millenium et Evonik Steag.

Abengoa Solar and ENEL need no introduction, they operate large scale solar plants in Spain and worldwide, ACWA... Never heard of ACWA, have you ?

ORASCOM CI rings a bell, it is owned by ORASCOM Group the 47th most important company in the Arab world. That's where things become interesting.

So what is it that they do?

An introduction gleaned on their site, http://www.orascomci.com,

"Construction Group Fertilizer Group

Products & operations
We have investments in three operational fertilizer plants, with a
fourth and fifth under construction. When all plants are operational
we will manufacture ammonia, granulated urea and nitrates in Egypt,
the Netherlands, the United States and Algeria. We also have an
investment in a global fertilizer trader.

We produce the following nitrogen-based fertilizers:

- Anhydrous ammonia: 1.15 million tons annually
- Granular urea: 1.3 million tons annually
- Calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN): 1.15 million tons annually
- Urea ammonium nitrate (UAN): 0.2 million tons annually"

They are aiming at doubling its capacity in the coming year.

So theses guys are into fertilizer big time, fertilizers are derived from phosphates, and guess who is the world's largest phosphate producer? Yes, Morocco.

Undoubtedly ORASCOM CI already does business with Morocco's OCP, Omnium Cherifien des Phosphates, and by the looks of it on paper is one of its major clients.

OCP is the world's first phosphates producer and exporter and one of the major groups in market cap and political pull in Morocco.

Now let us look at the parent company, ORASCOM Group, well its core activity is telecommunications, it is the largest Arab owned telecommunications company spanning operations in 21countries, with a $28Bn market cap it is the 46th largest Arab company overall. The group is also present in tourism and in construction.

Doing business with ORASCOM CI makes sense for 3 of Morocco's most important concerns, namely OCP, Maroc Telecoms (IAM) and possibly ONA, the North African Omnium.

1. The construction by ORASCOM CI of a fertilizer plant based in Morocco could be a kickback for OCP after it helps it secure the solar deal. Makes sense for OCP as it would grow its value chain rather then sell raw materials. This strategy is signaled by the recent Morocco Brazilian joint venture at Jorf Lasfar to build precisely such a plant.

2. Maroc Telecoms (IAM) could join the ORASCOM Group thus making it an uncontested heavyweight for the whole MENA region. It's consistent with its acquisition strategy so far and would play in favor of both companies. VIVENDI would be made to exit from IAM, perhaps unwillingly so, since its added value to the company is now doubtful. The share has been in the red for the last 6 months.

3. ONA the first national private group and number 58 on the list, present in banking could take care of IAM's changing of hands. ONA's pull ability could secure the deal for ORASCOM CI in exchange say for preferential rate shares in ORASCOM Telecoms after Maroc Telecoms (IAM) is sold or some opportunity to consolidate its own tourism portfolio with new expensive units.

I believe the Ouarzazate plant operation is an entry point for the ORASCOM Group to do big business in Morocco in diverse strategical sectors for the country, telecoms, tourism, construction. This repeat business capability is too good to be passed on and that will be the undoing of the other tenderers.

The other players on the shortlist are present solely in solar, they cannot leverage as much as ORASCOM CI can through its parent company.

That is how intricate and sophisticated business is Morocco, that's something the Sawiris brothers understand, that is why they expressed their interest in the tender knowing they can bring more to the table than others, and that is why they're going to win.

Ultimately the big business for Morocco and the ORASCOM group is not the Ouarzazate solar plant, it's IAM with a market cap of $15Bn, tourism, as the second source of foreign currency income for the country and construction, a booming sector.

The rest is history.

http://dinarstandard.com/rankings/top-100-companies-of-the-muslim-world-2010-ds100-ranking/
http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/q?s=IAM.PA

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Study claims solar power is more viable than ever, real cost in 2011 is less than $1 per watt

2011-12-18T23:36:00.000Z

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Chris Nova

Many analysts claim that solar power for the masses is simply not cost effective, and therefore not a realistic option for most power requirements.

However, a recent study conducted at Queen’s University and published in the December edition of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews concludes the public isn't properly informed about the viability of solar photovoltaic energy.

"Many analysts project a higher cost for solar photovoltaic energy because they don’t consider recent technological advancements and price reductions," says Joshua Pearce, Adjunct Professor, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.

"Older models for determining solar photovoltaic energy costs are too conservative."

Pearce believes solar photovoltaic systems are being innovated to the point where they are practically capable of generating energy at the same cost as more traditional sources of energy.

Obviously, there are multiple factors used to determine the cost of solar photovoltaic systems for consumers, including installation and maintenance costs, finance charges, the life expectancy of the system, and the amount of electricity it generates.

The problem, Pearce says, is that some analytical studies don’t consider the impressive 70% reduction in the cost of solar panels since 2009. Additionally, research now shows the productivity of the top solar panels only drops between 0.1 and 0.2 percent annually. This is much less than the one percent used in most cost analyses.

The cost of equipment is determined in dollars per watt of electricity produced. A study in 2010 estimated the cost at $7.61, while a 2003 survey weighed in at $4.16. According to Pearce, the real cost in 2011 is less than $1 per watt for solar panels purchased in bulk on the global market. He says system and installation costs vary widely.

Sourced : http://www.tgdaily.com

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Morocco's Agricultural Profile. Imports vs Exports

2011-12-18T18:53:00.006Z

Following a demand by one of our readers about Morocco's agricultural profile, this is a compilation of data by the FAO over the last 5 years. It shows strong exports when rain has been abundant and weak exports otherwise. This dependency on rainfall has to be broken, and it can be through water desalination and micro-irrigation.

The data also shows a major deficiency in wheat production, capacity should be ramped up in the years ahead so as to become self sufficient in that important foodstuff. Relying over and over again on U.S imports, even at preferential rates, is detrimental to our food security for the future. A decennial plan to reach self sufficiency is wheat is totally workable, it makes no sense to pay in hard currency what we can grow at home.

Also, you can tell by our exports that our agriculture is completely geared up towards exports to the European market. That reliance will also have to be cut down and we need to start looking at what our neighboring countries, Algeria, Mauritania, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt import and consume locally, as a way to strengthen the complementary and integration of the Union of the Arab Maghreb' economies.

Imports

Exports

Source : FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

MEDGRID+, A North African Supergrid Sine Qua Non

2011-12-10T14:27:00.031Z

Well for the recent news, MEDGRID and DESERTEC joined forces, it was previsible, MEDGRID is into the transmission business whereas DESERTEC aims at generating a massive amounts of gigawatts from solar energy.

The question that remains is whether can MEDGRID look out of the narrow scope of South/North energy transmission and contribute its expertise and know how to realize another essential piece of the equation, a Northern African Supergrid, that will allow the region to share its power from as far as Egypt till Morocco.

Let me say that things cannot be otherwise, this Northern African Supergrid has see the light of day, because else we would be throwing money by the windows in duplicate capacity, and we wouldn't realize the full potential of development in this field.

We would also be seriously undermining our energy security by being islands in the desert, linked to Europe but not to our neighboring countries.

Speaking of islands, in the visual above gleaned on MEDGRID's new site and adapted to our aspirations for the region, the projected transmission line extend as far as Israel. I'm betting that in the future Israel will cease being an island and collaborate fully with the countries of the region.

But, let us stay focused on the matter at hand, a Northern African Supergrid, and develop on my assertion of why it has to be. If we are to contemplate the fact that MEDGRID would just go as far as link the projected renewable energy capacity of the Southern Mediterranean region to Europe, like in the original visual, there is no other way to portray it then neocolonialism, where Europe would have found yet another way to exploit the South.

We do not want that nor will we accept it. Algeria has already voiced similar concerns, but we all think along the same lines due to our common past in dealing with colonialism.

We know fully that a solar panel installed in the Morocco generates as much as 6 times more power than the very same panel installed in Germany for example. What that says is that we are 6 times more efficient in solar power generation then the Northern countries, what it also means is that we are 6 times more cost competitive. Europeans know it, and we know it.

So the European Commission, DESERTEC and MEDGRID will have to roll with the punch, or sweeten the deal depending on the perspective, by contributing towards the achievement of a Northern African Supergrid along with the linkage to Europe they are envisioning.

After all, we still consume locally more energy then we produce, and we still can work with our neighbors towards grid integration, and we can still look for partners worldwide. Dependency towards Europe is fast becoming a thing of the past, globalization greatly reduced this lever that has been used relentlessly and without care.

MEDGRID as it stands is a myopic project, and no the South should not stay idle to see its power pumped without any other added benefits then being paid in an inflated foreign currency. Even the €400BN DESERTEC has budgeted can be found elsewhere, investment is quite forthcoming when are more then 5 times more cost competitive than your target market. But Europe cannot be the sole market for North Africa's solar energy, a Supergrid will enable the region with transmission capabilities as far as the Middle East, and from there it is a only a hop to the energy hungry markets of India and China.

Transmission over such long distances will not be an issue for much longer. A recent discovery by a Tel Aviv university team just developed superconductors that have the potential to revolutionize energy transfer, carrying about 40 times more electricity than today’s copper wire.

We are past the South resources being a bargain for Europe, and indeed looking forward to integrate our future grid with a similar one that is bound to take shape in the Middle East. As for Asians, they are already working on their own Supergrid.

South/North is passé even before coming into the full force of age, it is inevitable and so it is more challenging to already look beyond what is bound to be. North/South and South/East are the future of the energy game for the region. When you add it all up together, today Europe has to realize that the real potential lies in the integration of its resources, such as the Northern Wind Belt it has built, with our solar capacity and the possibility of transmitting energy as far as Asia, and that standing with us as a partner, taking a stake in our own interests and preoccupations, is better then to stay entrapped of a narrow Eurocentric mindset.

As for us, a quick glance at the world map is very telling as to how essential we have become in the unfolding scheme of events I described as a junction between Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Concept of the Global Integrated Energy Grid by Buckminster Fuller

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Cleantech, Solar Power, Introducing the C7 Tracker by SunPower

2011-12-03T10:43:00.000Z

I have to admit it is sexy, combining solar cells with concentrated solar has never been done this way. SunPower claims that the C7 Tracker will generate solar electricity with a 20% lower levelized cost of energy than "competing technologies." This remains to substantiated by actual data, and what "competing technologies are we talking about" ? Cheaper then CSP ?

Total SA (NYSE ADR: TOT), owns 66% of the company. It does have shaky financials, however - it's carrying $820 million in debt, $20 million more than its market capitalization. The stock is down 43.41% this year, and its P/E is 3.0.*

However SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA) still rates BUY in my opinion, even more so considering the growth of solar utility market worldwide. 20% cost reduction is hard to beat, even by the Chinese, and we should see their technology implemented in utility scale projects very soon, providing they are cost competitive. Morocco as other countries is interested in developing its technology portfolio, adopting multiple technologies is the best way to acquire expertise in a given field, but once again this little wonder should not be priced way above CSP, our technology of choice so far.

My only advice would be to split the firm in two, so that the spin off can focus on commercializing this technology. Doing both technology and utility business doesn't make much sense to me, by nature quite different businesses.

Article below by Travis Hoium contributed to DailyFinance:

SunPower claims that the C7 Tracker will generate solar electricity with a 20% lower levelized cost of energy than "competing technologies." [Note: I have asked the company for data behind this claim but I have yet to hear back.]

If we assume that the 20% cost claim is true, then SunPower could take over the utility-scale solar business. First Solar (NAS: FSLR) has much higher balance of system costs and would need a vast improvement in efficiency to compete. Even if Chinese competitors like Trina Solar (NYS: TSL) , Yingli Green Energy (NYS: YGE) , and JA Solar (NAS: JASO) are able to leverage lower polysilicon prices to lower costs, a 20% reduction is a lot to ask for. And SunPower will be benefiting from the lower poly prices as well.

SunPower also has the knowhow and backing to leverage a cost advantage in utility-scale solar power. The company has a big utility power plant division that has built projects around the world and has the backing of Total (NYS: TOT) , which has given the company a $1 billion line of credit.

It's too early to tell if the C7 Tracker will be a revolution that changes the cost structure of solar and how we look at utility-scale solar, but it shows that companies are out there innovating. When combined with new AC panels, I think SunPower is still making all the right moves in solar.

Source : http://www.dailyfinance.com

* Financial Data : http://moneymorning.com/

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Said Mouline, The Man Behind CDER (Renewable Energy Development Centre)

2011-12-02T14:27:00.001Z

An interesting interview conducted by the German Marshall Fund organisation back in June with Said Mouline, previously head of Morocco's CDER and now director of ADEREE, the Moroccan Agency for the Development of Renewable Energy, a newly created agency that is to replace CDER. . It would be interesting to hear from him, the pace of events has been important. But just how much pull did the man and CDER have in Morocco's energy strategy in a context dominated by heavyweights such as the ministry of mining and energy as well as ONE, the national electricity office.

What can be sure is that he will have more means to act, both financially, as here in Morocco, agency's budgets are much more consequent then center's, and also the scope of competency of agencies is comparatively much greater then centers. So what does he have in mind for ADEREE and what is his appreciation of CDER's past results ? Also what will be the role of ADEREE ? Studies as used to be the case with CDER, but also policy, investment framework, regulation ?

The only way of knowing is by proposing yet another interview.

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

International Desalination Association (IDA) on road to Morocco in March 2012

2011-12-02T13:36:00.002Z

The International Desalination Association (IDA) has announced the first event of its kind in the North Africa region, a conference on desalination and sustainability in partnership with the Societé Marocaine des Membranes et de Dessalement (SMMD).

To be held in Casablanca on 1-2 March 2012, the IDA-SMMD International Conference on Desalination & Sustainability is supported by the Office National de l'Eau Potable, Office Chérifien des Phosphates and several ministries.

Following other North African countries like Tunisia and Algeria, Morocco plans to implement new desalination plants for industrial, municipal and agricultural uses to secure the water supply in specific areas for sustainable development in the agricultural and phosphate industies.

The purpose of this conference is to fuse international experiences with regional needs and strategies in addition to sharing information on the latest desalination technologies. This assembly will also allow desalination experts in Morocco to interact with vital desalination suppliers both locally and internationally.

The conference will cover Desalination Costs; Use in Agriculture, Industry, Tourism; Potable Supply; Water Plans; Energy Efficiency; Renewable Energies in Desalination; Mediterranean and MENA Experiences; Future Trends in Desalination Equipment; Desalination and the Environment; Innovation in Membranes; Pretreatment and Post-treatment.

The venue will be Le Royal Mansour Méridien. Registration and other event information will be available soon. Sponsorship information is available from Beth Bodo of IDA at bbodo@idadesal.org

Source : http://www.desalination.biz

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Focus on Morocco : Interview with DESERTEC's CEO, Mr. Paul van Son

2011-12-02T12:35:00.001Z

Interview conducted by Andreas Breyer from Solar Novus | 14 Nov 2011

Desertec is an initiative to develop a sustainable energy supply in the desert regions in the Middle East and North Africa, known as MENA. In October 2009, Dii was formed as a limited liability corporation to advance the Desertec vision, and Paul van Son was appointed CEO of that corporation. Mr. van Son has held various management posts in the European energy industry, including Managing Director of Deutsche Essent (Germany) . He is also Chairman of the European Federation of Energy Traders (EFET) and Chairman of the Energy4All Foundation, which is active in Africa.

“The project itself will likely be implemented by using different technologies and a number of suppliers.”

Andreas Breyer, Contributing Editor for Solar Novus Today attending the second annual Dii Desert Energy Conference, held earlier this month in Cairo, where he had a chance to sit down with Mr. van Son. They discussed the goals and challenges of tapping the desert’s vast resource for use in both local and remote markets.

Mr. van Son, can you describe the current status of the reference project planned in Morocco?

The magnitude of this first expansion stage in Morocco is a total of 150 MW and an investment of approximately 600 million Euros. This is an important benchmark for all parties involved. Out of these, one third of the sum, namely 200 million Euros of equity will be provided by the industry. This is a very strong commitment of the industry to the project. Another precondition, however, is that the financial concept includes certain support from the governments. Here, the discussions are already underway for some time. The German Government as a strong supporter is particularly keen that also other countries support the project. Currently we are in state where we define the project, so regarding the construction start I do not know the exact date yet. But we are in a very advanced state in which we will soon be are able to show feasibility of the project. The exact location is not yet defined, there are a few possible sites that are already identified, and the distance to the grid is an important issue we have to care about.

The project itself will likely be implemented by using different technologies and a number of suppliers, meaning that it is still not 100% defined what technologies are used in which share. It will most likely include CSP technology, but we do not exclude a portion of PV.

What are the processes of the tender?

In this process Dii only acts as enabler. We are currently defining the project in order to determine if it is feasible. For this we do a cost analysis, we set up a financing model etc. So our role is to create a business case where we and all others involved get the impression: Yes, this thing can fly! We are still in the process to bring all this together. CSP technology has clearly earned a chance to prove itself with the support of start-up incentives, just like it happened with PV and wind in the last decade. Another major goal of Dii is to bring down the cost level of these facilities through the learning curve to a competitive level as soon as possible. Wind, though, will not be considered at this stage, because this technology is already well established.

Part of this first phase is a test run on energy exports to the existing cable line from Morocco to Spain.

Reference projects like this by nature have lighthouse character. But that is only one part of the story. What really counts in my opinion are questions of network development, market capability and market stimulation for such technologies, which funds are being brought in, etc. All this we currently evaluate in the context of the roll-out plan, which is going to be published by the end of next year. Of course we are talking with transmission system operators (TSOs) such as ENTSO-E; which are dealing with these issues.

From your point of view: How can the necessary expansion and conversion the European networks be done?

Dii is a catalyst for the power network debate in Europe. Since we exist these issues have come back on the agenda. Planning horizons of 40 years, as we use them, were not the case before in grid planning. By this, we contribute to the discussion on the restructuring of the European grids.

How can we stem the necessary investments?

The whole issue is nothing new for the network operators. Even without our initiative, the locations where energy is being produced change because of the expansion of renewables in the EU. If you shut down nuclear power plants, the capacities must be built up somewhere else sooner or later, and subsequently the grid must be adapted.

How can we do this at a European level? France sticks to its nuclear energy policy and therefore has little interest in energy from the desert.

No one can say that the world will always be like it is today. France also has to adjust to different situations in the future, and in a future European network no country can isolate its grid from the neigbours. When Germany expands its grid interconnection between North and South, this already has impacts throughout Europe. Spain already has two cable connections to Morocco with 1,400 MW and has been supplying electricity to Morocco for 15 years. In the future, Spain could be a transit country for energy and raise transmission fees for the desert energy.

What about the compensation?

In the upcoming transition period we definitely need remuneration instruments. This can be a feed-in-tariff, but there are other possibilities, such as minimum purchase commitments, which will then find a market price.

What would you prefer most?

The key issue is the overall business case. Important at the moment is that a stimulating and stable investment climate is set up. Here, mainly the European governments and the EU Commission are requested, and of course also Morocco itself. Surely it would be very nice if Brussels could speed up the whole development in close cooperation with Member States.

Mr. Van Son, thank you for the interview.

Source : http://www.solarnovus.com

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Project Genesis Morocco Outlook, and Prospects of Regional Collaboration for UMA

2011-11-29T23:44:00.001Z

Project Genesis stated goals in 2006 was to reach a capacity of 12 GW of solar energy capacity at a rate of one GW per year, putting the completion date at 2018, yes, a bit overly ambitious, but at the time it was an idea and since it is turning into fact. As things stand, we will reach 5GW by 2020. There is still 7GW to develop to complete the scope of this project as I envisioned it.

The remaining 7 GW would take 14 years to implement providing we reach our 2020 target on time,which I am confident we will, maybe less considering the accelerated learning curve for projects already in the pipe. Im basing this estimate on the time its going to take us to implement 5GW by 2020. That puts the estimated completion date for Project Genesis Morocco’s stated objectives at 2034 or 2036 at the latest.

By then Morocco should dispose of a 12 GW capacity for solar alone. Enough to power desalination stations in a sustainable way and embark on reclaiming arid land in our southern provinces through micro irrigation and pivot plant agriculture. This will be for Morocco a viable long term solution for its food autonomy in the coming decades. Large swaths of our territory is arid, desertification is not something that you contain, it has to be fought back. Micro irrigation greenhouses and pivot plant agriculture is the way to go.

Growing capacity past that point makes sense once we are are able to sustain our economy, water needs and agriculture in an efficient way. That means no energy imports safe for oil, and yes heavy fuel and coal. We have legacy power plants that rely on heavy fuel and coal and were not just going to throw them away, so they have to be phased out progressively, and their capacity replaced by renewables. These two will be the first to go in due time, as for oil it is a necessary import as long as it takes for transportation alternatives based on electricity or hydrogen to mature and become mainstream.

At any rate, abundant renewable energy and desalinated water should mean no more wheat or agricultural produce imports in the future. We should see that taking place once we have grown our desalination and agricultural capacity accordingly. That is key for sustainable development, growing and consuming our food locally and that very same strategy is pursued by many country still relying on imports.

As for the region as a whole, I already stated that an initiative such as DESERTEC will only become viable once our local needs are covered, the Moroccan state is fully aware of that, since the protocols put in place by MASEN clearly state that any energy produced will be sold to ONE, (National Electricity Office) directly. ONE will only be looking at exports once it satisfies local demand for energy. The same is going to apply in all of the countries in the region, namely Algeria whose energy minister already made clear that only surpluses would be exported, and most likely Libya, Tunisia will follow suit.

The challenge for the north African region is integration, this integration can be based on energy, our grids have to be interoperational and a UMA (Union of the Arab Maghreb) supergrid, along the lines of what’s been done in Europe has to be pursued. Solving the energy question as an ensemble, in a cohesive manner, is a strategic structuring framework for the region. We can also collaborate in the fields of water and food autonomy, we are all concerned and have to work together. One of the benefits of this multilevel cooperation is deflating any artificial tensions in the region. And I stress the word artificial, if you ask citizens of Morocco or Algeria, they will tell you that the two peoples have no issues with one another, as for politicians it’s a different matter. The same certainly applies for the Algerian and Libyan people after the fall of Kaddafi. Tunisia is bound to do better. Remains the Mauritanian question.

I believe that Mauritania is still lagging far behind other countries of the region, and therefore we have to help, and since they are part of UMA they have to be brought on board in this broad agenda, whose goal is and remains the betterment of living standards for the ensemble as a whole.

It is Morocco’s duty to lead, since our ambitious stated renewable energy target, 42% of the energy mix of the country to be reached by 2020, with 5 GW of capacity in development, put Morocco at the forefront in the entire MENA / Africa region. We can already see a race taking place between Morocco and Algeria, it is a desirable state of affairs, but should not, absolutely not shadow cooperation and we can already tell that it wont be the case as a high level delegation lead by Mme Benkhadra recently visited Algeria to push forward grid integration between the two countries.

I have to say and this will be my conclusion, we are still far behind our collaboration potential. Algeria’s vast foreign currency reserves can and should be invested in making important inroads for the development of our renewable energy potential as an ensemble, that means investments here in Morocco, in Mauritania and everywhere in UMA where development is only held back by cash issues.

I believe Algerians could be handsomely paid back through participations in such projects as well as the prospects of seeing a regional energy concern take shape, one that could replace SONATRACH someday. SONELGAZ for one is has already defined the edges of its renewable energy strategy and embarked on subsequent investments.

King Mohamed VI in a recent speech called for renewing the ties between Algeria and Morocco and putting past disputes aside. The mutual interests are evident, the cost of inaction too high to consider. This post is my personal contribution, say a bottle to the sea in the direction of our neighbors shores, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania. Countries we have willingly chose to share our destinies with in the context of the Union of the Arab Maghreb, a choice furthermore reaffirmed and inscribed black on white in our new constitution.

I'm tweeting this post today with #Algeria #Morocco #UMA as hash tags, a copy will be mailed to UMA's General Secretary. Some key official from either side might read it. But more essentially act on it, for the time for action has come. The Arab spring will be green as all springs are.

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Algeria, Morocco boost agricultural collaboration

2011-11-29T22:50:00.002Z

Personal Notes : Bilateral relations between Morocco and Algeria are starting to make sense. On March 28, I have covered earlier on in this blog the potential for Morocco and Algeria to collaborate on the fronts of renewable energy, water and food autonomy in a post untitled Algeria, Morocco and the energy, food and water security of the region. Realpolitiks. I'm glad to see things moving forward in that direction.

To put things simply, Algeria should be our first export destination for our agricultural exports, that is other then food crops such as wheat as we still rely on imports ourselves, see post untitled 300 000 tons too many.

Why ? because we are bordering countries, one that has a strong agriculture, that is Morocco, and one that imports lots of food stuffs, Algeria. Trade is always the strongest between bordering countries and that is the rule for all bordering countries, and there is no reason why Morocco and Algeria would be exceptions, no reason at all as a matter of fact except for murky politics which we cannot, must not, in the general prevailing context of the Arab spring, either perpetuate or sustain. They have to be put aside for the good of both countries.

Morocco needs investments for its agricultural sector ? Algeria has billions of foreign currency reserves, sitting in bank accounts. They can be invested here, in return Algeria benefits from its privileged relationship with Morocco that is de facto, like it or not, the agricultural powerhouse of Northern Africa. Can Algeria do without Morocco ? No it cant, it would be shortsighted to put politics above sound economics. Can Morocco overlook Algeria's oil and gas based deep wallet as a possible engine for its growth ? No it cant, not in a global recession context.

Will it materialize ? Signs are that it will, it makes no sense to do otherwise. UMA, the Union of the Arab Maghreb has to lift off, on the agriculture, water and renewable energy fronts, all pressing issues for its members. Much time has been wasted already. Time to get down to business.

[AFP/Abdelhak Senna] Algerian Agriculture Minister Rachid Benaissa (right) signed a co-operation agreement with his Moroccan counterpart Aziz Akhannouch in Rabat last April.

By Fidet Mansour for Magharebia in Algiers

The accords covered a variety of issues ranging from beekeeping to work with the Filaha Inov Foundation, which organised the annual Algiers agricultural expo where Morocco was a guest of honour.

In the latest indication of warming ties between Algeria and Morocco, the two Maghreb neighbours signed a series of agricultural co-operation agreements last Wednesday (November 23rd) in Algiers.

“The signing of these agreements marks the beginning of a co-operation process which we want to be strong,” commented Algerian Agriculture Minister Rachid Benaissa. He added that the presence of 150 high-level Moroccan business figures was a sign of “shared interest in building strong relations between our two countries”.

“We are consolidating a process that has been under way since the beginning of this year,” Benaissa said, referring to the April Morocco-Algeria agricultural accord.

In a press statement, Moroccan Agriculture Minister Aziz Akhannouch highlighted the fact that his country’s participation in the trade fair was part of a process that the two sides have developed together. “The contact that will be made during this event will make it possible to step up exchanges with a view to feeding our region more successfully,” he added.

The experiences of the two Maghreb states was discussed in depth at the Algerian-Moroccan Forum on Agriculture, Agri-Food and Rural Development, which was held on the side-lines of the trade fair and attracted 150 Moroccan businessmen.

Algerian agriculture ministry official Sid Ahmed Ferrouckhi discussed the “Agricultural and Rural Renewal Policy” launched in 2000. The various agricultural development plans implemented as part of this policy have increased agricultural output by a factor of 4.5 to date.

“Over the 2010-2014 five-year period, Algeria will spend 3 billion dollars a year on supporting programmes to develop the agricultural and rural sector,” he said.

The Green Morocco Plan, which was implemented in 2008, “is intended to make agriculture a real driving-force for growth over the next 15 years by doubling agricultural GDP, which is currently estimated at $12 billion”. Morocco also plans to increase its agricultural exports to $8 billion in 2020, experts at the forum said.

The main challenge for Moroccan agriculture is investment, according to conference attendees. Agriculture in Morocco is developing steadily, however.

These statements drew plenty of reactions from the Algerian press. Mohamed Touati, an expert on Algerian-Moroccan relations, commented that the two sides were “demonstrating their desire to sit down at the same table to patch up their differences”. He said the attendance of 150 high-level Moroccan business figures was “a sign of the shared interest in building strong relations between our two countries”.

“A bit like ploughing that goes promisingly, the machine intended to thaw relations that have been strained for far too long has been switched on. And as long as no grains of sand cause the machine to seize up, the harvest will be fruitful indeed,” he concluded.

Source : Http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Moore Vs Metcalf

2011-11-28T22:41:00.004Z

Robert Metcalfe, or Bob for the select few.

Personal Notes : Here is an interesting post by fellow blogger Tyler Cowen from Marginal Revolutions, posted as is, my answer to his post follows.

What is the future of solar power?
by Tyler Cowen on November 7, 2011

If we believe Moore’s Law in solar, then the safe bet in terms of behavioural reactions is not to react. Within a decade or two, energy will be socially as cheap as it is privately as cheap now. That means that changing habits for environmental austerity is not the way to go.

I would make a simpler but less optimistic point. If a solar breakthrough is now likely, in which market prices do we see it reflected? It is true that fossil fuel prices took a steep tumble in the last few months, but I’ve never heard anyone suggest that price plunge had to do with a forthcoming solar revolution. It seems cyclical in nature, or perhaps related to the spreading news of further fossil fuel discoveries, including natural gas. For better or worse, those shale oil and natural gas discoveries — which by the way will create lots of jobs — will further raise the bar against solar power, and it’s not just the Republicans who will promote them.

Alternatively, is there a bubble in the stock prices of solar power specialists? What’s the total market cap of companies selling solar panels? Or is there a bubble in the share prices of companies which supply cheap and reliable power storage? The evidence on these points seems weak to say the least. Keep in mind that other countries can make the switch even if you think political conspiracy will prevent it here. And solar panels can be cheap in the sense that my bicycle is cheap, the real question is whether we see industry-wide price changes as would befit a systematic solar energy revolution.

Is there any reason, based in industry-wide market prices, to be optimistic about the near-term or even medium-term future of solar power? I don’t see it.

Moore Vs Metcalf

Ok Tyler, here's the skinny, you chose to base your assumption on Moore's law, however I choose to base mine on Metcalfe's for the following reasons.

Solar energy comes in two shapes, distributed, panels you or I can install at home or at our businesses and central, large solar plants. In both cases any solar energy gathering device's full potential is to be connected to the grid. And that is where Metcalfe's law applies for solar pretty much as it did for the internet. The more devices are plugged to the grid the greater its worth and the higher its efficiency and resiliency.

I firmly believe that in the foreseeable future, solar energy, precisely photovoltaics will reach mass market, be it thin film or cheaper solar cells. You might have heard of the ongoing trade war between the U.S and China in that regard. And when that happens, solar energy already abundant in its raw form will become cheap. Cheap is actually an understatement if you consider that every hour, the sun radiates more energy onto the earth than the entire human population uses in one whole year, the actual word is free.

I have sometimes ventured in this blog into exploring our next economical model, that I call the free energy ecosystem, where energy will cease to be a luxury for some like here in Africa and become a commodity so mainstream, easy to gather and abundant that it will cease having an actual market value other then for distributors.

Just one other thought, there are here in Morocco people living in remote rural areas, not connected to the grid. They never paid an electricity bill in their life, they used to charge battery packs.

Now the national office is going to equip 25 000 such households with photovoltaics systems coupled to batteries in partnership with Tenesol, a french photovoltaics concern. They will pay for the equipment which they will own when the leasing is over.

These people by the looks of it now, will never pay an electricity bill in their lives and that's one of the aspects of the free energy ecosystem.

So if you ask me about the future of solar power, Its quite bright actually. is there a bubble ? Yes, but there is nothing wrong with a bubble, that is how people make money.

Free energy thanks to the sun, not a matter of if but of when.

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

The World Bank about Morocco's Solar Ambitions

2011-11-18T20:34:00.004Z

The World Bank (WB) approved, on Thursday, of a loan totaling 297 million dollars to help finance the Ouarzazate concentrated solar power plant project, here follows the official press release :

Press Release No:2012/140/MNA

WASHINGTON, November 17, 2011 – The World Bank today approved $297 million in loans to Morocco to help finance the Ouarzazate Concentrated Solar Power Plant Project, taking a historic step toward realizing one of the first large-scale plants of this kind in North Africa to exploit the region's vast solar energy resources.

With this approval from the Bank’s Board of Executive Directors, Morocco takes the lead with the first project in the low-carbon development plan under the ambitious Middle East and North Africa Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Scale-up Program. A $200 million loan will be provided by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the part of the Bank that lends to developing country governments, and another $97 million loan will come from the Clean Technology Fund.

“The World Bank is proud to provide the financing needed to make this large-scale renewable energy investment possible,” said World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick. “Ouarzazate demonstrates Morocco’s commitment to low-carbon growth and could demonstrate the enormous potential of solar power in the Middle East and North Africa. During a time of transformation in North Africa, this solar project could advance the potential of the technology, create many new jobs across the region, assist the European Union to meet its low-carbon energy targets, and deepen economic and energy integration in the Mediterranean. That’s a multiple winner.”

The 500 megawatt (MW) Ouarzazate solar complex, as the first power site, will be among the largest CSP plants in the world and is an important step in Morocco’s national plan to deploy 2000 MW of solar power generation capacity by 2020.

The World Bank has supported Morocco’s national Solar Power Plan since it was launched in 2009 and is now making this significant loan to co-finance the development and construction of the Ouarzazate Project Phase 1 parabolic trough plant through a Public Private Partnership between the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN) and a private partner. Ouarzazate Phase 1 will involve the first 160 MW and will help Morocco avoid 240,000 tons of CO2 equivalent a year.

The Ouarzazate project will also contribute to Morocco’s objectives of energy security, job creation, and energy exports. As a regional frontrunner in clean energy, Morocco is rising to the challenge of its international commitments made in the last two United Nations’ climate summits and under the “Union for the Mediterranean.”

"The Ouarzazate first phase is a key milestone for the success of the Moroccan solar program,” said Mustapha Bakkoury, President of MASEN. “While answering both energy and environmental concerns, it provides a strong opportunity for green growth, green job creation, and increased regional market integration. It will pave the way for the positive implementation of the regional initiatives sharing the same vision (Mediterranean Solar Plan, Desertec Industry Initiative, Medgrid, World Bank Arab World Initiative). The support of international financial institutions, like the World Bank, through development financing but also climate change dedicated financing, is essential to help bring the overall scheme to economic viability," added Bakkoury.

The Ouarzazate loan is in line with the World Bank’s commitment to scaling up funding that helps developing countries cope with climate change and embark on a low-emission development path. The World Bank Group’s renewable energy portfolio increased from a total of $3.1 billion between fiscal years 2008-09 to $4.9 billion in 2010-11. Given the simultaneous expansion of the overall energy portfolio during the same period, the renewable energy proportion rose from 20 percent to 23 percent.

Source : World Bank

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Global leaders re-think energy strategy

2011-11-17T12:21:00.001Z

Personal Notes : Outstanding piece by Myrna Velasco from the Manilla bulletin, its straight talk about the perspectives of renewables, although I do not suscribe to the opinion that Hydro or Geothermal would be more reliable then solar. As a matter of fact, hydro declined in Morocco this past year due to less then expected precipitations, and solar has very much in it the potential to generate massive amounts of energy in a reliable way. I agree however that it not apply for other parts of the world with lesser insolation metrics.

Also some readers might find some hard truths of this article not in line with their ideas or expectations about the renewable energy outlook, but I am more bent on understanding and sharing the facts, makes for a more objective and balanced approach. The talk about a solar bubble is very real, although there is nothing wrong with the bubble phenomenon, that is how people make money, and that is one of the driving forces for solar presently like it or not.

If you enjoy this article as much as I did, you might be interested in looking at this other article untitled "Insider Talk, Renewable Energy From the Utilities Perspective" that provides insight into how utility execs approach renewable energy. The two combined make for a comprehensive outlook.

By MYRNA M. VELASCO (SPECIAL FEATURE)

PARIS, France – The Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan and the
apprehensions of protracted debt-triggered economic slump in the
Eurozone have been moving global policy leaders to re-think the
future’s energy mix.

As the cards are being re-dealt, many believe that green technologies
– primarily renewables – would be the trumps. Understandably so as the
whole world keenly deal with the worsening climate problems.

But there is a firm word of caution from the energy leaders: To be
very careful with the planning processes and in pursuing technology
options because blindly following what’s in vogue can be misleading –
and at times, dangerous.

The pace of economic recovery, it was similarly emphasized, will
generally set investment timeframes. Project deferrals will likely
happen as investors face the dilemma whether they should wait until
clear signals of economic rebound are there or would they stake
capital but with delayed prospects of recovery on their investments.

Low nuclear case

According to Mr. Richard H. Jones, deputy executive director of the
Paris-headquartered International Energy Agency (IEA), nuclear will
remain a significant component of the future energy mix – that despite
a ‘deviation from the course’ earlier set by some countries, primarily
Germany.

While other jurisdictions momentarily backpedaled on their nuclear
investments, momentum is still expected to build up in the future
because the technology remains a low-cost, low-carbon option for the
long term. In fact, based on IEA’s assessment, despite the high
upfront capital cost for nuclear, its economics still thrive most
attractive.

Across technologies, he pointed out that the levelized cost of energy
drawn from nuclear still offers better succour for the wallet – it,
emerging one of the cheapest among the choices in the mix.

Yet in the World Energy Outlook (WEO) 2011 to be unveiled in London
this week, the IEA hints of a “low nuclear case” because of the “rapid
slowdown in the use of nuclear power” following the Fukushima
disaster.

For countries with sustained nuclear ambitions, including the United
States, the obstacle course ahead will include re-thinking of
technology improvements – something that is heedful of the tragedy
that has befallen Japan’s nuclear path.

Based on data laid down by the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA), the low- to high growth forecasts for nuclear reactors to be
in use until 2030 will account for 6.2-percent to 13.5-percent in the
energy mix. The general trend, however, will be a ‘slow growth’ as
compared to the earlier projections.

High-carbon infrastructure ‘lock-in’

Separately, at the B20 Business Summit on the fringes of the G20
summit in Cannes, Dr. Fatih Birol, IEA chief economist, disclosed that
based on their updated WEO, “$38 trillion of investment is required to
meet projected energy demand through 2035.” The breakdown will be:
$16.9 trillion for power generation; $10 trillion for oil; $9.5
trillion for natural gas; $1.1 trillion for coal; and $0.3 trillion
for biofuels.

Dr. Birol albeit warned that “investors in energy projects are facing
a multitude of risks.” The defining factors for the energy outlook set
sharp focus on: worldwide access to energy; fossil fuel subsidies and
investment in energy infrastructure.

Although they are jealously guarded by competitors in the technology
front, it appears that the role of fossil fuels in the energy mix –
primarily “Big Oil” and “King Coal” -- might still be far from over.
Experts nonetheless acknowledged that the “high carbon infrastructure
lock-in is making the 2-degrees centigrade climate challenge goal more
challenging and expensive to meet.”

That as a given, world energy investors are putting faith in
technology improvements as well as in “human ingenuity” to level up to
the expectations of de-carbonized energy choices – be it with
renewables or in bringing to market fossil-fuel based clean energy
choices, such as gas.

Conversely, the role of coal in driving economic growth is prescribed
for re-examination, fundamentally within the context of an
emissions-constrained world.

Ahead of the United Nations (UN) climate negotiations in Durban, South
Africa later this month, the IEA bared that carbon emissions have
bounced back last year after a temporary decline following consumption
reduction during the 2008-2009 economic crisis.

With 7.0 billion people now inhabiting the planet, the investment
challenges are similarly getting trickier – not only in terms of
meeting growing energy demand but also in providing access to those
who are still not quite part of the global energy equation. By 2050,
the level of population will explode to unprecedented 9.0 billion.

The IEA thus roped in, in its outlook, “the scale and type of
investment needed to provide modern energy to the billions of the
world’s poor that do not have it.”

Dr. Birol noted that around 20-percent of global population, or around
1.3 billion people, still lack access to electricity; and roughly
40-percent or 2.7 billion people don’t even have clean cooking
facilities. Such scenarios, the IEA chief economist emphasized, must
be fully integrated in the scale of future investments required of the
energy sector.

The capital outlay components intended to address the woes of the
energy-deprived population will be $48 billion, he said, further
stressing that “while this is more than five times the current level
of investment to expand energy access, it only represents around
3.0-percent of projected global energy investment.

Onward to 2030, the other major concern that deserves its place in the
solution front would be on scaling down, or total phase-out, of fossil
fuel subsidies. The continued existence of fossil fuel subsidies in
many markets, the IEA enthused has been resulting in “an economically
inefficient allocation of resources and market distortions” and it
similarly triggers failures in intended objectives.

The case for renewables and gas

With unconventional shale gas flourishing in North American
jurisdiction, perceptions prevail that the world may already be
reaching the “golden age of gas.”

In fact, for the envisaged slowdown of nuclear investments in Japan
and with Germany’s shutdown move on the technology, the choices being
peddled to these two countries are either renewables or gas.

It is worth noting though that in Germany’s case, it has already gone
too heavy with its renewable investments (primarily for solar and
wind). Yet, despite its ambitious touch on RE, supply reliability
remained its major concern. For the replacement of capacity to be
voided by its scrapping of nuclear as a technology choice, the country
must either embrace gas as alternative, or revert to coal to ensure
its longer term energy supply, experts surmised.

Mr. Jones noted that in contrast to the ‘gas revolution’ overwhelming
the United States, “shale gas is not much of a European story.” Hence,
this will pose some challenges as to where the supply would be coming
from if Germany’s or other European countries’ preference would be
gas.

There are already projections of “possible delay in oil and gas sector
investment in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region”, and
their impacts on energy supply are cautiously being re-assessed.

Russia is another energy market being monitored vigorously, as it is
viewed that developments in this domain will have “implications on
global markets.”

Meanwhile, renewables continue to present ‘exciting twists’ in the
energy future narrative. Sustainability and subsidy issues, however,
may persistently hound pace of developments.

The ‘solar energy bubble’, particularly in Spain and Germany, might in
part be a harbinger of things to come. Energy planners however are
willing to place higher bets on the more sustainable RE sources, such
as hydro and geothermal, as compared to the intermittent ones – which
they likened to “separating the men from the boys.”

Asia’s renewable energy story is also being closely watched – with
China already surpassing the US on that investment sphere; while Japan
is also prodded on more RE deployments at its energy mix, in addition
to liquefied natural gas.

Source : http://www.mb.com.ph

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Morocco to Pioneer 1 GW Hydro-Wind Hybrid Power, Doubling its Hydro Power Capacity

2011-11-12T13:03:00.000Z

Personal Notes : This is the second STEP station announced earlier this year by ONE. It was initially planned to be 350Mw, this is a huge increase.

Morocco is developing a project that will be the largest in the world to combine two natural clean power allies, wind and water, in a hybrid power project rated at a little over 1 GW (1,070 megawatts) as part of Morocco’s ambitious renewable energy targets set just two years ago in 2009, to get 10% of its electricity from renewables by 2012 and a staggering 42% from solar by 2020.

The African Development Bank (ADB) has made an offer to invest $329 million of its own money in the groundbreaking hybrid wind and hydro-electric power plant.

Although seldom built in tandem as one project like this, hydro power is often used to provide storage for wind power. Water is pumped uphill with electricity from wind at times it is not needed on the grid, for example past midnight, when demand is low. Then it can be released to run the hydro electric turbines when the power is needed. A small wind-hydro hybrid began construction in the Canary Islands in 2010, but it is only one tenth of the size of this proposed hybrid.

With this bold investment offer by the African Development Bank the funding has gotten a jump start. Quite aside from the innovation aspect, the size of the project would double Morocco’s existing hydropower, rated at 1,205 MW.

The total cost of the hybrid wind and hydropower project will be $2.16 billion. As well as the African Development Bank, other investors are expected to want in on such a revolutionary idea, in a nation that has moved to the forefront in renewable development. As well as making the $329 million investment using its own money, the African Development Bank will also earmark an additional $150 million for the project from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) which it helps to finance with other lenders.

While MASEN, Morocco’s Agency for Solar Energy is becoming world famous for its visionary solar projects, the Office National d’Electricite (ONE) runs Morocco’s wind and hydro power energy programs.

You might not associate hydro power with a parched MENA nation, but in fact the entire African continent has enough hydropower potential to meet its entire electricity needs, and has tapped only 20% of it, according to a Hydropower Resource Assessment of Africa published a few years ago.

Most of the continent’s existing hydropower projects are in the North African nations of Morocco and in Egypt.

Since the power is to be used in Morocco’s isolated rural areas, it is another opportunity to get the world’s last few billion people without electricity straight onto the clean grid right away, bypassing the dirty grid altogether, and thus it is a very exciting investment opportunity with potentially world-changing effects over the long term.

Sourced : http://www.greenprophet.com

BBC's World Challenge 2011, My Vote is In !

2011-11-08T11:21:00.001Z

I voted for Tech Crunch from Chile, a small firm that operates in recycling E-waste.

The winner will be announced in an awards ceremony held in the Netherlands. The awards ceremony will be broadcast on 26th November 2011 on BBC World News and announced on the website on the same day and profiled in Newsweek magazine in the 5th

More about Tech Crunch :

Safely disposing of E-waste from broken computers and other outmoded electronic gadgets is becoming a bigger problem as the world becomes ever more wired. The chemicals and rare metals inside our laptops and phones are particularly harmful to the environment, and simply throwing them away is a waste of precious resources that then need to be replaced through fresh mining. 'Recycla' is the first and only electronic waste recycling social enterprise in Latin America. The company aims to tackle the problem of the eight million mobile phones and one million computers that are discarded in Chile annually. They are dismantled and separated into recyclable materials and toxic waste that can be disposed of safely.

Vote at http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk

Solar Intermittency: How Big is the Problem ?

2011-11-08T10:59:00.000Z

By Siah Hong Tan

Intermittency is one of the major criticisms of solar — the majority of the energy is delivered when the sun is shining brightly, but virtually none is created at night or in substantial cloud cover.

How do solar developers view this issue — does it pose a huge stumbling block to current projects, or is it something that has been effectively managed? I spoke with two gentlemen, Martin Hermann, CEO of 8minutenergy Renewables and Paul Copleman, communications manager at Iberdrola Renewables, to find out more.

Are there specific technologies used to deal with intermittency? Surprisingly, neither developer implements storage technologies on-site because there is no need to do so.

In fact, it seems that solar technology has already occupied a niche where it can thrive without a storage solution.

Copleman explains, “[the] integration of significant amounts of intermittent generation is entirely feasible with the existing grid,” due to the “ability of the grid to respond to changes in generation levels in real time using the existing generation and transmission system.” Thus, on the supply side, the technology is feasible, and solar can fit into a niche market. “Solar PV’s production curve is aligned with the peak demand during the day and therefore helps to shave the peaks within a utility’s generation profile,” said Hermann.

In fact, even without storage technology, the PV intermittency seems to be effectively managed at current project scales. Mr. Copleman stresses the distinction between intermittency and predictability: “It’s important to understand that while solar is intermittent, it does not have a random generation pattern. Solar resource is very predictable, which makes grid integration less of an issue. Additionally, forecasting solar resource on a day-ahead and hour-ahead basis has a high accuracy factor.”

Besides having a predictable generation pattern, other measures are being used to tackle the problem. For example, Iberdrola is “evaluating its wind projects for where a co-located and co-interconnected solar project would increase capacity factor as well as decrease sub-hourly intermittency.” Also, project screening avoids locations where intermittency becomes a substantial issue for the system.

While both gentlemen state that intermittent power is not a short-term problem, they agree that it would become an issue in the longer term. This would happen when solar finally moves from its current niche as a supplemental resource and transitions to become a firm, baseload resource. “Locating 1,000 MW of PV on one transmission line will clearly be more difficult to integrate than 1,000 MW of PV spread across multiple distribution and transmission lines and across a broader geographical area,” said Copleman.

Current researchers and developers of storage solutions should pay attention to two different milestones that would be game-changers in the way solar energy is utilized today. The first milestone, at three to five hours of storage, “will allow a precise overlap between the PV production curve and the demand peak of a particular utility,” said Hermann. “The second milestone, at 20 hours of storage, will enable PV to work as a base load resource.”

Both solutions must be cost-effective though, as they will compete directly with traditional base load resources like LNG and coal. Once these milestones are reached, solar energy is set to transform the world in a much greater way.

Sourced : http://www.renewableenergyworld.com

NTU researchers develop cheaper yet highly efficient thin film solar cells

2011-11-07T00:26:00.000Z

Personal Notes : Singapore makes the news tonight. Combining low grade silicon with plasmonics and can bring to the market cheap while efficient cells, a game changer for the whole energy industry. Plasmonics are indeed the future of solar cells and can greatly improve on this already impressive achievement by IME and NTU as Dr Navab Singh points out. More on plasmonics in previous posts untitled 'Plasmonic Cells, How Nanoparticles can Change the Game' and 'Stanford scientists see the solar future, and it's all about 'nanodomes' and 'plasmonics''. All these developments came in a rapid succession in this current year and show the intensity of research worldwide to come up first with what can only be described as a disruptive innovation.

Why disruptive ? Because it has in it the potential to lift whole underdeveloped regions out of energy poverty. Need I remind my readers that barely 2% of rural Africa for example has access to the grid ?Read on.

Researchers in Singapore have exploited advanced nanostructure technology to make a highly efficient and yet cheaper silicon solar cell. With this development, the researchers hope that the cost of solar energy can be halved.

Developed jointly by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and A*STAR Institute of Microelectronics (IME), the new thin-film silicon solar cells are designed to be made from cheaper, low grade silicon. However it is able to generate electricity currents close to that produced by traditional solar cells made from costly, high quality silicon.

The new NTU-A*STAR nano-structured solar cells can produce a current of (34.3mA/cm2) - a world record for a silicon solar cell of its kind. This is made possible by creating a unique texture using nanostructures - which is thousands of times smaller than human hair - on the surface of the solar cell.

The resulting electricity current output is close to those of traditional cells (40mA/cm2). Conventional thin film solar cells usually produce about half of the current that traditional cells produce.

Adoption of solar energy around the world is hindered by the high cost of traditional solar panels, partially due to it being made from high grade crystalline bulk silicon.

Using low-grade amorphous (shapeless) silicon thin film that has no texture - which is over 100 times thinner - addresses the material cost issue, but it is not as effective in converting sunlight to electricity, thus producing less energy.

The newly developed nanostructure method, which creates a unique texture on the surface of amorphous silicon, improves the Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE) of the thin film silicon cell and so increases the energy output.

The lead of the project from IME, Dr Navab Singh, Senior Scientist of IME's NanoElectronics Programme, said: "To mitigate against reduced light absorption and carrier recombination in the amorphous silicon thin film cells, we designed and fabricated the novel nanostructures on silicon surface. The sole application of IME's surface texturing strategy achieved a record high of short circuit current density with 5.26% PCE."

"The cell level power conversion efficiencies of bulk crystalline Si solar cells are 20 - 25%. Given that short circuit current density is directly proportional to PCE, it is conceivable that subsequent efforts to improve fill factor and open circuit voltage would boost the final PCE of the silicon thin film solar cells greatly to match that of bulk Si solar cells. Our future research efforts will explore additional light trapping strategies such as plasmonics," continued Dr Singh.

Professor Cheng Tee Hiang, Chair of the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, said improving the efficiency of low-cost solar cells is critical in encouraging adoption of solar energy around the world.

"Today's world is faced with several challenges, which include the depletion of fossil fuels, increased cost of such fuels and a growing carbon footprint. At NTU, we are committed to develop the next generation of solar cells which are cheap, efficient and easy to manufacture, so as to enable solar energy to play a bigger role as a renewable resource."

Sustainability is one of NTU's Five Peaks of Excellence which the university aims to make its mark globally under NTU 2015 five year strategic plan. The other four peaks include future healthcare, new media, the best of the East and West, and innovation.

Professor Dim-Lee Kwong, Executive Director of IME, said, "The demand for thin film solar cells are expected to double by 2013. IME's research efforts in this area are congruent with the world-wide movement towards renewable pro-environment and cost-viable energy solutions

Sourced : http://www.solardaily.com/

Addis Abeba 6th African Economic Conference, A Personal Follow Up

2011-11-04T22:17:00.016Z

As promised, here is a more thorough analysis of what has been said at the conference and some personal view about the issues raised in Addis.

Firstly, Africa presents a rare opportunity or if you like a twist of events that is quite remarkable. Because Africa is not a poor continent but one where its resources have been mismanaged we find countries that would be rich on paper considering their vast mineral or oil wealth and that are in reality lagging far behind better managed countries with fewer resources.

As a consequence the continent's energy infrastructure is not up to what it should be, the article by the Rural Electrification Alliance untitled 'The Black Out Continent' that has been featured in the Genesis Morocco blog is compelling.

Now would you ask how does that constitute an opportunity ? Well because the energy sector is under developed there is a one in a lifetime chance to go green, indeed to orient all future development inasmuch as possible towards lasting, sustainable solutions, ie Cleantech.

There is an anecdote that is quite telling, from China actually, and surely you will see how that applies here. In its effort to bring up to par its communication network, China invested heavily in the early 90's in massive copper wiring running across its vast expenses of land. They were soon to discover that miles and miles of it were unearthed during night by cunning thieves who sold the copper on the black market.

So, the Chinese used optical fiber instead. It was costlier, more challenging technologically but of no use to thieves. And now they have an advanced optical fiber network way superior in its capacity to what copper could have achieved

For Africa, renewable energy presents the same challenges, its more expensive for now, it requires cutting edge technology but it is the solution for the future of the continent's energy security.

How can it be done ? For starters, nothing should be considered without an eye on the bigger picture. Renewable present the tremendous advantage of being more efficient as a pool, through load balancing. When one's country peak demand corresponds to another's low consumption bracket, load balancing allows for energy transfer and lowers the investment threshold as there is no need to duplicate capacity, all whats needed is to share it.

I very much appreciate the efforts conducted in Addis, they are a step in the right direction. But key to success is an African Supergrid. And we need to see in the foreseeable future, no more then 5 years, African energy ministers sitting on a table and charting the way ahead for the continent's countries grid interoperability as well as the creation of an African Energy Commission whose scope will be to implement the Supergrid and manage it in the future.

The African Supergrid once achieved will be able to connect Africa from its southernmost region to North Africa and beyond through MEDGRID that will link Southern Mediterranean countries to Europe's existing Supergrid, as well as to the East, to the Arabian peninsula and beyond to China itself. Indeed the vision of Buckminster Fuller, that of the Global Energy Grid is edging more and more each day towards reality and we have to be part of it.

Secondly, in energy, and energy has become equivalent to development, united we stand, divided we fall. Closer at home, the Arab spring will hopefully allow UMA (Union of the Arab Maghreb) to proceed diligently along this line. Already Morocco and Algeria have engaged talks for a unified Maghreb electricity market and are working on interoperability of their grid as a necessary ground work for the region's integration and possible future electricity exports to the European Union.

Bear in mind as well is that energy is one of the very few sectors that are politics blind, countries will cooperate in that sector, even if they are at odds with one another for other issues. I believe the very reason of that is that their energy ministries and electricity offices are maned by engineers, whose inclination to engage in politics is low. A blessing in disguise.

Now for the financing, always a thorny issue for Africa. Well the ADB (African Development Bank) is on this, and if we are to extrapolate what has happened with energy investments in Morocco we find that most major banks were willing to sit a the table to finance energy ventures. In this global context of economic uncertainty, energy and specifically renewable energy is one of the very few sectors that have demonstrated an ability to continue to attract investments. Its better then putting your money in financial derivatives don't you think ?

ADB should be able to pool with other major funds, as it has done in the past, for investments not aid, and I do need to stress that fact, investment not aid. Aid only skews the financial framework and aid is not sustainable nor will it be forthcoming in these difficult times. The renewable energy sector is one that has to be presented as an opportunity of investments and not otherwise.

Why ? Because Africa has a card to play in this industry of the future. DESERTEC, the giant program who's aim is to make of North Africa and the Middle East a powerhouse for Europe is not a disinterested affair as you would expect.

The facts are that a solar panel installed in south Germany has a yield of 800Kw yearly, the same panel installed in Morocco has a yield of 2200Kw yearly. Germany is scrapping its nuclear generation capacity, and so it has to replace it with something else, thus the 400 billion Euros DESERTEC initiative that was a pipe dream by the Club of Rome has become mainstream and is taking shape as we speak.

The same applies for Africa as a whole. Its vast potential in renewable constitute an opportunity for energy exports, and that will become more and more relevant as we witness the damages caused to the environment by carbon based energies, but more pragmatically, it will be the dawn of the oil era soon, and that will be undoubtedly followed by the dawn of another era, that of nuclear power. What will left standing ? Renewable energy. And that is why there are investments even if it is costly to do so presently, it is because there is already a position game being played to be significant players in the future of the global energy game.

So investment will be available, from Europe, the Middle East, China, the U.S to name a few. Whats in it for them is a win win deal. They get a share of the market, both local and international, are able to put substance in their efforts to bring the African continent out of its unmerited woes and are also investing in the future of close to 1 billion customers market whose revenues will increase as they are able to produce and consume their energy locally and export it globally.

God Bless Africa, a continent that will overcome, and that will find its prosperity and deserved rank amongst the world's nations. A matter of time.

African Visual by Duncan Walker © fair use terms.

Tenesol to bring solar power to 26,000 Moroccan households

2011-11-04T13:41:00.002Z

French solar company Tenesol is set to install photovoltaic (PV) systems on 26,000 homes in rural Morocco in partnership with the country’s National Electricity Office.

The project will bring solar power to more than 163,000 people who previously had no access to electricity. The project is scheduled to be complete by 2018 and is expected to cost €25m. Subsidiary company Temasol will supply, install and maintain the systems.

The PV modules will be connected to a battery allowing to store the power generated and use it throughout the night. In addition, Temasol will construct solar heating systems, solar generators for remote telecommunications infrastructure and grid connected PV plants throughout the country.

Jacques Mathan, export sales director at Tenesol, said, ‘We are delighted to be involved in this life changing and highly rewarding project. Rural electrification is a major part of a country’s socio-economic development and this project reflects Morocco’s commitment to assisting and improving rural communities. Many of the families we work with have never had access to electricity but solar energy is fast becoming the renewable answer to their power needs.’

Sourced : NewNet

Solar Plants Construction and Delivery, Assessing the Risks

2011-11-02T09:47:00.003Z

As for any project there are constraints and risks, the constraints can be assessed and reduced previous to construction start, as for the risks they can be mitigated but not simply brushed aside if and when they materialize. Risk assessment is key to plan for successful mitigation scenarios, and that can make or brake the whole undertaking.

Here is a comprehensive list of risk factors pertaining to constructing and operating a solar plant established by U.S firm First Solar in one of its investor statements. They pretty much apply here in Morocco as in any other place.

Inability to complete construction of, or capital improvements of solar plant
Inability to obtain the required regulatory approvals and permits for construction and operation
Inability to obtain the supplies necessary for the construction, operation, and maintenance
Inability to hire and retain skilled labor for the construction, operation and maintenance
Changes in laws, regulations, governmental policies and regulatory actions regarding the energy industry and environmental matters
Inability of constructor or its affiliates to access capital markets or maintain their current credit ratings
Failure to generate the expected amount of electric generation
General economic conditions
Hazards customary to the operation and maintenance of power generation facilities, including unanticipated outages
Unusual or adverse weather conditions, including natural disasters
Transmissions constraints or other factors limiting constructor's ability to deliver energy from its power generation facilities
Volatility in the price of energy
Failure of operator's customers to perform under contracts
Increased competition in the power industry
Changes in the wholesale power markets
Costs and other effects of legal and administrative proceedings
Terrorism or other catastrophic events

Resource : http://investor.firstsolar.com

Morocco Atlantic Bridge, Morocco and the U.S. foster economic relations

2011-11-01T19:16:00.003Z

Personal Notes : An excellent and much needed initiative. The two countries have a great deal to gain from developing their long lasting special relationship beyond diplomatic and mutual geopolitical interests that have so far somehow predominated over trade. Fact is that in the U.S the trade agenda is driven by its private sector, so it is up to us to make our country and its business opportunities known to U.S CEO's and CIO's who are global players.

Renewable energy is specifically mentioned. I believe Morocco's $9 Billion Solar Initiative Program is too good to pass upon for any U.S renewable energy concern with a global perspective.

Morocco with its geostrategic position and political stability can also constitute for U.S companies a foothold for the MENA region. Even more so now that regime changes in both Tunisia and Libya as well as Egypt, will open these markets for international investments.

There are presently to my knowledge only two U.S firms implanted in Morocco doing business in energy, General Electric and CMS Energy. IBM and Microsoft are also implanted here, and their range of services include energy efficiency software, especially IBM. Hopefully more will follow.

Article below by Morocco Tomorrow

Rabat, October 31, 2011 – Morocco and the United States signed here on Monday a declaration of intent for the setting up of “Morocco Atlantic Bridge” initiative.

The initiative aims to strengthen bilateral trade relations and partnership, and better use of the free trade agreement in force between the two countries.

Signed by Moroccan Foreign Trade Minister Abdellatif Mazouz and U.S. Ambassador to Rabat Samuel Kaplan, this declaration is part of the implementation of the Moroccan strategy for development and export promotion “Maroc export plus,” and the U.S. national export initiative “National export initiative.”

Mazouz told MAP after the signing ceremony the initiative is likely to energize and increase investment in Morocco in logistics and industrial services, based on the FTA with the United States and the agreements with Europe, Arab and African countries.

Morocco will take advantage of 105 U.S. agencies involved in making known U.S. products, services and investment in the world, to promote Morocco’s exports and increase trade between the Kingdom and the United States.

The sectors targeted by the initiative are ITC, automotive, renewable energy, electrical components, pharmaceuticals, equipment and logistics, aerospace and environmental technology and consumer goods.

The initiative will also facilitate the establishment and development of American companies in Morocco, to build on the strategic positioning of Morocco as a business platform for logistics, services, events and international fairs for U.S. companies.

Thus, U.S. firms can increase their sales in the markets of Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and the EU from Morocco.

Areas of cooperation include in particular the organization of joint promotional events, the linking of Moroccan and American businessmen and companies, the certification of Moroccan shows according to U.S. standard (CTF) and enhancing communication.

The Lucky Few, Pre Selection For The 500Mw Ouarzazate Solar Plant

2011-11-01T13:08:00.004Z

Map of the 5 Selected Sites for Solar Energy Production.

On september 2010 I have covered the EOI by 180 candidates for the Ouarzate Solar Plant. Following that a list was made available by MASEN with 19 candidates that have been retained.

1) Abeinsa Ingeniería y Construcción Industrial, Abengoa Solar, Mitsui et Abu Dhabi National Energy
Company (Taqa)
2) Cromasolar International Energy Group SL
3) Delta Holding, Energy Consulting Group et SOCOIN
4) ENEL S.p.A et ACS Servicios Comunicaciones y Energía, S.L.
5) Entrepose Contracting, IWB, Solar Euromed - Novatec Biosol, Cegelec Maroc et GE O&G
6) Forclum – Groupe Eiffage, STEG International Services, BrightSource Energy, CNIM, Caisse des Dépôts
et Consignations, Alstom Power, Alstom Maroc, Nur Energie, SGTM et Brookstone Partners
7) Infra Invest
8) International Company for Water and Power (ACWA Power International), Aries Ingeniería y Sistemas
SA et TSK Electrónica y Electricidad SA
9) International Power, Nareva Holding, Marubeni Corporation et Siemens Project Ventures GmbH
10) JGC Corporation
11) Korea Midland Power Company, Ltd., Daewoo Engineering Company et Asea Brown Boveri SA
12) Litwin SA, Groupe S.E.E.M., M+W Group, Ynna Holding et Sytelco
13) Lockheed Martin, CBI, Colenergie, Zavala Moscoso et Electria
14) Mitsubishi Corporation et Auto Hall
15) Orascom Construction Industries, Solar Millenium AG et Evonik Steag GmbH
16) Shenzhen Xintian Solar Technology Co, Ltd.
17) SNC-Lavalin Inc.
18) SolarReserve et Veolia Environnement Maroc
19) Torresol Energy Investments et Sener Ingeniería y Sistema

Of the 19, 4 have made it to the pre-selection that has been finalized in Sept 2010 and one of them is expected to win this international tender. Its a $1.8 to $2 Billion deal that's on the table.

Here are the lucky 4 :

1) Abeinsa ICI, Abengoa Solar, Mitsui et Abu Dhabi NEC ;
2) ENEL et ACS SCE ;
3) International Company for Water and Power (ACWA), Aries IS et TSK EE
4) Orascom CI, Solar Millenium et Evonik Steag.

The winner should be announced in the beginning of 2012 as it is MASEN's objective that the plant be completed by 2015.

We are a year behind schedule as the deal was to be closed in 2011. However the complexity, both technical as well as the necessity for establishing previously a sound legal framework that involved many stakeholders, namely MASEN, ONE (National Electricity Office), the Ministry of Energy as well as the Ministry of Industry to name only these, caused this necessary delay.

It is better to take time do things right, I believe MASEN is on a learning curve for projects of this scale and that subsequent tenders will be processed more diligently. Worth mentioning is that environmental considerations pertaining to this mega project have been studied and will be taken in consideration.

Sourced : Official MASEN Press Release

6th Economic Conference in Addis Abeba. Experts Call for Major Structural Transformation of African Economies

2011-10-31T12:46:00.002Z

Personal Notes : The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi's declaration about Ethiopia becoming carbon neutral by 2025 is stunning. I believe Ethiopia would be the very first country to achieve that in our continent. Its well worth mentioning. I featured previously in this blog a post by Harry Velantine from energypulse.net about the renewable potential of Ethiopia.

I will come back to this personal note about the Addis Economic Conference shortly, there is more to say about how the continent can collaborate. For now, here is the press release.

//Nov 5th update : As promised, here is a more thorough analysis of what has been said and some personal view about the issues raised in Addis

Press Release :

The 6th African Economic Conference opened Tuesday, 25th October 2011 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with calls by experts for a major structural transformation of African economies.

With the theme: 'Green Economy and Structural Transformation', the four-day conference is jointly hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Development Bank, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The specific objectives of the Sixth African Economic Conference is to provide a platform for experts on Africa, both within and outside the continent, to reflect and dialogue on new directions for growth policy on the continent in order to determine the best approaches to attain the Millennium Development Goals, achieve the objectives of NEPAD and accelerate Africa's sustainable development.

It will also help to build a common understanding of and exchange knowledge on the green economy concept among African scholars, policy makers as well as other experts in the field; To deepen the knowledge-base in the subject in the quest to meet challenges and identify opportunities in a 'green economy' and to share experiences on what is working and what is not in terms of policy responses and interventions; Suggest ways to reinforce capacities of governments and the private sector as well as empowering citizens in the promotion of green economy on the continent, to articulate ways of formalizing a framework for African countries to ensure that relevant green economy concerns are addressed in international, regional and national fora.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Abdoulie Janneh, the UN Under Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) said it is now evident to all concerned that mankind needs to move from old resource intensive methods of growth in which progress has been at the expense of the environment to one in which productivity is boosted by using and managing natural resources more efficiently and effectively. He said green economy must contributes to the structural transformation of African economies, as economic activities must take account of long-term consequences for the environment and the need to preserve our common heritage for future generations while promoting improved social conditions, noting that building a green economy is therefore an important element of the solution.

According to him, the commitment to building a green economy brings its own challenges noting that switching to a green growth path may enable leap-frogging of dirty and inefficient technologies, there are more fundamental dilemmas to grapple with including costly adaptation and path dependence. "Radical changes would be required in behaviour from government, firms and consumers and matched by sufficient financial resources if this approach is to succeed. We also face a predicament in the sense that while the pressing priority for most African countries is to promote growth that creates jobs the immediate effect of on-going growth is a short-run increase in demand for food, energy, and water that may further burden the environment." Janneh posited.

The Gambian-born UN under Secretary General said: "It is against this background that we must examine how best the green economy can bring about structural transformation in Africa. In doing so, however, we must note that Africa has been growing quite steadily since the turn of the new Millennium with growth rates averaging about 5%. We therefore need to take this situation into account as we try to shift to a green growth trajectory, and especially as our major development partners are also grappling with debt, unemployment and slow growth. Moreover, we must strive to ensure that our growth processes provide job opportunities for young people and give them hope for the future."

To ensure that the green economy contributes to structural transformation in Africa, Janneh said we have to overcome some of the challenges outlined, and would also mean providing a persuasive vision for the green economy, promoting green growth, determining key sectoral priorities and establishing frameworks for coordination at national and international levels.

Janneh reminded African leaders that if the green economy is to drive a process of structural transformation it would be important to convey a clear vision to all stakeholders of what it entails and what is required to bring it about. Creating awareness about the concept is an important and necessary first step in meeting this very important requirement, just as it would be necessary to highlight its potential contribution to growth and structural transformation. He said Africa has an abundance of natural resources such as minerals, fisheries, forests, wind, hydro and solar which provide it with options for their long-term use in an eco-friendly manner. He added that the green economy would also need to be properly coordinated with on-going processes and must therefore be integrated in national development plans and strategies pointing out that African countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Rwanda and South Africa are good examples of how the green economy could be used to create jobs, generate energy and aim towards carbon-free targets. In addition, he said governments also have a role in establishing policy frameworks that will prioritize investments in the green economy and create incentives to overcome negative externalities and encourage private actors to embrace the idea.

He then made it clear that it is important that international governance of the environment promotes rather than hinders green growth. "There is legitimate fear that a green economy may allow for trade protectionism and the imposition of additional policy conditionalities but this need not to be the case if we promote and adopt global norms that make it easier to produce and trade in green goods" he said. He stated that since developed economies have the resources and technological capabilities needed to undertake required changes, serious consideration should be given to how best to assist African countries to implement agreed outcomes including through the provision of accessible finance, building of local capacities, and access to green technologies. He then described the theme of the conference as relevant, apt and compelling and urged Africans to address this concern by clearly defining what we mean by the green economy and to show that it does not subtract or detract from sustainable development but rather further deepens our ability to promote the balanced integration of its economic, social and environmental pillars.

The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, stressed that green growth of utmost importance to Africa due to its abundant renewable energy sources. He said that since African economies are largely agrarian-based, any action on green growth must first target the agriculture sector. He also stated that structural transformation can only take place with a massive increase the production of energy in Africa, from renewable sources. And added that Ethiopia had already embarked on such a programme, that will increase energy generation five-fold in the next five years. "By 2025, when we expect to be a middle-income country, we will have close to zero net emissions of carbon in our economy," he said.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping, said the theme of the meeting was very timely and will help Africa's preparations for the CoP17 negotiations later this year in Johannesburg, South Africa; and the Rio + 20 meeting in Brazil in June 2012.

Ping quoted the famous political economist, Thomas Malthus, who once said: "The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man." He made it clear that he was not a Malthusian, and said green economic growth would be the solution to population pressures. He also noted that the 2011 Economic Report on Africa, jointly published by the African Union Commission and the Economic Commission for Africa, calls on the state to intervene in economic activities to guide development, and said the developmental state would be central to progress in Africa.

Tegegnework Getu of UNDP noted that although African countries had achieved impressive growth rates in recent years, this had not led to a significant improvement in the lives of Africans. He therefore called for a new economic development model such as green growth. "African countries must achieve much-needed advances in human development without replicating the unsustainable practices of those already there; improve the utilisation of their natural resources, including the new discoveries of minerals and hydro-carbons, such that critical environmental systems functions that are preserved and so that the human development of current and future generations is maximised," Getu said.

Mthuli Ncube, the vice president and chief economist of the African Development Bank, pointed to the difficulties that the global economy is currently facing and the dangers this can pose to African economic prospects. He said African policy-makers therefore have a responsible to manage African economies to shield it against external shocks and to promote global growth. He added the continent also needs to access more funds available for climate change adaptation and called for the creation of a climate change fund that is specific to Africa.

The African Economic Conference will finally inform the 17th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which takes place in Durban, South Africa from 28 November to 9 December 2011 and will also help the continent to prepare for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 4-6 June, 2012.

Sourced : The Daily Observer. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).

André Merlin, The Cable Guy

2011-10-30T14:26:00.000Z

Head of MEDGRID. Very articulate, an ex EDF (Electricité de France) heavy roller with electricity distribution as area of expertise. I have covered before his interview at the European Energy Forum on 5 October. He is undoubtedly one of the key players in the energy transformation for the MENA region and its integration with the Europe's power grid. He expects to be done with North South grid integration by 2020.

Here's his wikipedia profile page, its in french.

Breaking News : DESERTEC to Start in Morocco by 2012, 3 Years Before Previously Announced Schedule

2011-10-29T14:43:00.010Z

Personal Notes : A very welcome development that brings the total capacity to be achieved by 2020 to 2500Mw instead of the initially planned 2000.

BERLIN - DII has announced that DESERTEC, the mega project of solar centrals in MENA, will start in Morocco in 2012, 3 years before the previously announced schedule as reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung.

The site will have a capacity of 500 megawatts, half the yield of a modern nuclear plant, and will start next year on a superficy of 12 square kilometers for a cost of 2 Billion EUR (2.8 Billion USD).

DII had previously set as an objective to wrap the financial, location and technological framework before 2012

Ernst Rauch the DII chief has announced that "The start of the project initially expected to take place in 2015 comes much sooner then expected and will start delivering to the grid by 2014, or 2016 at the latest" as cited by the Munich newspaper.

Sourced : Süddeutsche Zeitung

Insider Talk, Renewable Energy From the Utilities Perspective

2011-10-29T13:25:00.001Z

By Ucilia Wang

The cost of producing solar electricity has been falling, and that should make it much more desirable to utilities. But what do utility executives really think about solar these days, and what will make them embrace solar more (besides being told by their regulators that they have to)?

At the Solar Power International conference in Dallas last week, a panel of utility executives served up some telling views about their interest and misgivings about investing in solar. Here is a takeaway of some of the key points:

1. Price is still a big barrier: There has been lots of talk about the rapid decline of solar panel prices and the rise of large-scale solar farms, but the price for solar hasn’t come down far enough, utility executives said. That means they aren’t likely to invest in it unless they have to in order to meet state mandates. The issue is particularly thorny in places of the country with super low electric rates (and lower numbers of sunny days). Robert Powers, president of AEP Utilities, noted that the average wholesale price for power in general in several northeastern states this summer was $0.04 per kilowatt-hour when the price for solar was around $0.20 per kilowatt-hour.

Larry Weis, general manager of Austin Energy, noted that wind energy development has continued to grow and at cheaper costs. “It’s difficult to say, OK, let’s go out and build 200 MW of solar now when can acquire 200 MW of wind for roughly half the cost,” he said.

2. Too much reliance on government help: The solar industry has largely depended on a 30 percent investment tax credit and other federal and state incentives to help them finance projects. While utilities can take advantage of the tax credit and other help if they want to invest in solar, they are leery of having to factor in government incentives when they do long-term planning for power plant construction.

“State and federal support will go away, and we have pressures from our owners they don’t want us to rely on the (investment tax credit) forever. They don’t like earnings that are based on taxes,” said Randy Mehrberg, Chief Operating Officer of PSEG Energy Holdings in New Jersey. “Cost, at the end of the day, is what haunts all of us.”

3. Money and technology: Although the government has invested billions of dollars into renewable energy, it’s facing high pressures to limit spending. “One thing we don’t talk about enough in the energy industry is capital as a resource,” Powers said. “There is a finite capital to solve the U.S. and the world’s climate issues. Policy makers will face the inevitable question: if I spend a dollar on solar, a dollar on natural gas, or a dollar on wind, how do I solve some of the broader policy issues because I’ll eventually run out of the capital if I don’t spend my dollars efficiently.”

Powers said one way to make solar attractive is to pair it with energy storage, which can bank solar and deliver power to utilities who need it to balance their supply and demand and to make sure any sudden flow of renewable energy (when the wind starts to blow or the sun comes out from behind the clouds) doesn’t disrupt the grid’s operation.

Doyle Beneby, CEO of CPS Energy, a municipal utility in San Antonio, said the use of demand-response technology can help turn solar into a more predicable source of energy sooner than storage can. The utility plans to build a communication network for 150,000 of its customers by 2015 that will allow it to reduce power use of households. “Our view is that on days when the cloud covers come in and your solar output dips, we can have volunteers have their power turned down,” Beneby said. “We can get that to market before battery technology is scalable enough to have an impact.”

4. Some policies are desirable: Utilities don’t like to be told they have to invest in more expensive energy or technologies. But if their consumers start to demand cleaner power or if there is one day a price on carbon emissions – and some utility executives think eventually there will be – then utilities want to make sure they can pay for all the costs. One way to do that is to support renewable energy mandates, which typically come with mechanisms for utilities to recover part of the extra expenses by passing on costs to ratepayers.

Armando Olivera, CEO of Florida Power & Light, said a big disagreement between proponents of centralized and distributed solar generation has made it difficult to lobby the Florida state legislature to pass a clean energy mandate. The company wants to do large-scale projects because they are cheaper. The retail electric rates in Florida are about 27-30 percent lower than national average, so the utility wants to do solar as cheaply as possible to minimize rate hikes, Olivera said. The company has built 3 solar projects totaling 110 MW in the last few years. “We think we can do the same projects at 30-40 percent cheaper now than we did three or four years ago. We have another 500 MW we can start construction if we have the right policy,” Olivera said.

5. Idealism and reality: Solar energy advocates have been touting many polls showing that Americans want clean energy, and utility executives largely agree. But they don’t always want to pay for it. Armando Olivera, CEO of Florida Power & Light, said its residential customers have expressed a willingness to tag on another $3 per on their bills to support solar. Randy Mehrberg, chief operating officer of PSEG Energy Holdings in New Jersey, offered up this anecdote:

“We ask our customers regularly what they would like to see from us. So we asked them, what is the No. 1 we can do for you besides lowering your bill? The No. two answer was more renewables. Guess what the No. 1 answer was? The answer was ‘Lowering the cost of our bills.’”

Sourced : http://gigaom.com

SolarWorld Recognized as Renewable-Energy Industry Leader on Sustainability, Transparency

2011-10-29T10:17:00.002Z

HILLSBORO, Ore., Oct 28, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- SolarWorld, the largest U.S. solar panel manufacturer, has been recognized by three independent rankings as the global renewable-energy industry's leader in sustainable corporate management, environmentally sound manufacturing and transparent financial reporting.

The 2011 annual report of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) for Germany, released in Frankfurt in mid-October, positions SolarWorld as the "Sector Leader" among its renewable energy peers. The CDP is a cooperative endeavour by more than 551 institutional investors worldwide to improve corporate transparency on greenhouse gas emissions affecting the climate. To this end, participating companies voluntarily report their annual C02 emissions and their strategies and steps toward climate protection. SolarWorld was deemed to most fully disclose its data, placing the company at the top of the CDP's ranking.

"SolarWorld's commitment to sustainability and transparency is a key factor that differentiates us from our competitors," said Kevin Kilkelly, president of SolarWorld Americas. "As a company, we believe it is not valid to claim to sell a green product if your own business and manufacturing practices are not equally sustainable. Sustainability -- environmental, social and fiscal -- is at the very core of who we are and what we do."

For the high quality of its financial reporting, SolarWorld also received accolades in this year's "Best Annual Reports" competition by Manager Magazine. With its integrated financial and sustainability reporting, which includes environmental and social key performance indicators, SolarWorld outpaced all other companies in the renewable-energy sector. In the overall ranking, the group occupied 10th place among the 160 most important companies listed on four European stock indexes: the DAX, MDAX, SDAX and TecDAX.

Earlier this year, the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC), a watchdog group that has monitored the sustainability of the computer and solar industries, ranked SolarWorld first among world solar producers on a range of issues pivoting on sustainable performance. Among factors was the company's voluntary compliance with reporting regimens encompassing a company's entire impact, one of which is the U.N.-backed Global Reporting Initiative.

SolarWorld's performance on the SVTC's Solar Scorecard was the second year in a row in which the company ranked highest among producers of crystalline silicon solar technology on the only annual ranking of all solar companies on sustainable performance.

About SolarWorld ( www.SolarWorld.com ):

SolarWorld (isin:DE0005108401) is a worldwide leader in offering brand-name, high quality, crystalline solar-power technology. Its strength is its fully integrated solar production. From silicon as the raw material through wafers, cells and modules all the way to turn-key solar systems of all sizes, the group combines all stages of the solar value chain. The central business activity is selling quality modules into the installation and distribution trades and crystalline wafers to the international solar cell industry. Group headquarters are located in Bonn, Germany. The group's largest production facilities operate in Freiberg, Germany, and Hillsboro in the U.S. state of Oregon. Sustainability is the basis of the group strategy. Under the name Solar2World, the group supports care projects using off-grid solar-power solutions in developing countries, exemplifying sustainable economic development. Worldwide, SolarWorld employs about 3,300 people. SolarWorld AG has been quoted on the stock exchange since 1999 and today is listed on, among others, the TecDAX and OkoDAX as well as in the sustainability index NAI.

Media contact: Devon Cichoski Media Relations Manager SolarWorld Americas 4650 Adohr Ln. Camarillo, CA 93012 Mobile: 805-377-2905 Office: 805-388-6388 devon.cichoski@solarworld-usa.com

SolarWorld Americas

Sourced : SolarWorld.com / Business Wire

Obama administration announces desert 'solar energy zones'

2011-10-29T09:10:00.001Z

Personal Notes : An initiative we could clone right away, thus making sure our solar industry has room to grow. We got plenty of arid and desert land that could fit the purpose. The area can be divided in lots either sold for a nominal price or given by the state as an incentive for solar power firms to establish their presence in Morocco.

By Julie Cart, Los Angeles Times
October 28, 2011

The Obama administration on Thursday unveiled its road map for solar energy development, directing large-scale industrial projects to 285,000 acres of desert land in the western U.S. while opening 20 million acres of the Mojave for new development.

The Bureau of Land Management's long-awaited "solar energy zones" are intended to make some of the desert's most sensitive landscapes less desirable for solar prospecting by identifying "sweet spots" that have already passed environmental requirements and therefore promise expedited permitting, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said.

"These 445 square miles of zones are where development will be driven," Salazar said on a conference call with reporters.

The 17 solar energy zones in six western states — including two extensive areas in California — were identified by their absence of major environmental or cultural conflicts. But nothing prevents a developer from requesting permission to build on federal land outside the preferred areas.

The policy, which is expected to be finalized sometime next year, would not apply to the 13 solar projects already under construction across the West, nor the 79 pending applications that would occupy 685,000 acres of public land. There are 20 utility-scale solar applications awaiting approval in California.

Industry and environmental groups have eagerly anticipated release of the plan, with both sides saying much is at stake. Solar developers need to site projects ahead of deadlines for billions of dollars in federal and state subsides. Conservation groups contend that the desert — home to scores of endangered plants and animals — is not capable of absorbing industrial-scale change.

The solar industry, which had a hand in crafting the proposed regulations, applauded the additional clarity they provide but bridled at the zone approach.

"While we are still reviewing all of the details in this proposal, there are some significant areas of concern," said Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industry Assn. "Siting flexibility and access to transmission are key to the financing and development of utility-scale solar power plants. Both aspects must be reflected in the final" plan.

And the Bureau of Land Management's failure to make vast swaths of the desert off-limits to development irked some environmentalists.

The bureau "never will close the door on anything; that's the only thing that has been consistent in this whole process," said Janine Blaeloch, director of the Western Lands Project. "They won't put their foot down."

Critics contend that the policies are too late, coming after three years of free-for-all leasing that encouraged rampant speculation. Since the leasing began, the Bureau of Land Management has been working to process more than 300 solar applications. Many are in California's Mojave Desert, where the state's eastern counties have seen the cost of private land soar and desert given over to what will be hundreds of square miles of mirrors.

Renewable energy is a centerpiece of President Obama's energy policy, which aims to reduce American dependence on foreign oil while developing domestic clean energy that creates jobs.

The government has spent millions of dollars to develop a framework to regulate solar operations on public lands, electing to write new protocols rather than apply existing leasing rules for oil and gas.

The first draft of the Bureau of Land Management plan that was released Thursday cost the agency more than $13 million to prepare. Additionally, as of last year, the bureau had spent more than $18 million to more accurately map federal land holdings.

Combined, those projects consumed nearly 80% of the Recovery Act funding set aside for the bureau's entire renewables program, according to an analysis by the Interior Department's inspector general.

julie.cart@latimes.com

Sourced : http://www.latimes.com

Africa, The Blackout Continent

2011-10-23T16:22:00.000Z

Personal Notes : Centralized grid is not an option for Sub Saharan Africa, the population is often sparsely disseminated over vast expenses of land, but standalone solutions have got a lot of potential. That is how we have achieved our electrification goals here in Morocco for remote villages and difficult to access areas, mostly photovoltaic pannels connected to batteries for storage. Its been a success and can replicated elsewhere in Africa. Like for many other challenges facing Africa, it remains a question of will and means. The will I believe is no obstacle, the means however is a different ball game.

Despite the efforts of the international community and the fact that Energy has been for the past years one of the main areas of the fight for economic development, the overall situation of Africa has gotten worse, mainly due to a population growth which has outpaced the slightly increasing electrification rates. In fact, still only 29% of the population has access to electricity today, the population without access jumping by 35 million from 2002 to 2008.

This increase is mainly due to Sub-Saharan Africa since North Africa, with large rural electrification programs like in Morocco, has reached during the past decade a level close to full electrification in both rural (98.2%) and urban (99.6%) areas. In total, Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 99.6% of the unelectrified population in Africa, underlining the great disparities between both African regions.

These facts lead to two basic conclusions: first, the development goals are all linked with each other and access to modern energy is probably the most horizontal development issue of all. Secondly, these numbers show that without strong political commitments and the implementation of sustainable supporting frameworks, the electrification rate will never catch up with the population growth and the unelectrified population in the poorest regions of the world will keep increasing.

This trend is unacceptable. As the IEA figures prove developing countries can change course and can improve the situation within a reasonable period of time. Against this background ARE calls for national electrification targets of 2.5 % above the population growth" (ARE recommendations on the World Bank Energy Strategy Approach). With this target, in 2025, 67.3% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa would have access to modern energy, requiring the electrification of more than 350 million people over the next 15 years.

Sub-Saharan Africa, despite its numerous natural advantages (extremely favorable sun and wind conditions, big hydro potential and important sustainable biomass potential) and its dramatic needs, is not part of the global upswing of renewable energy.. However, the international concern, ever more favourable technology prices and the increased awareness of governments could, in the medium term, transform the continent into the next market with 2 digit growth. The off-grid renewable energy sector has been already stepping a foot in this market for a long time but is still far from reaching its potential.

Northern Africa present very interesting solar resources and well as an important wind potential in several places. In this region the off-grid potential is still quite important and rather well exploited. Recently, large renewable energy projects are increasingly realized.

Sourced : http://www.ruralelec.org

Peak Oil Anyone ?

2011-10-22T19:46:00.001Z

Personal Notes : A follow up on a recent post about peak oil.

About half of North Sea oil and gas reserves have yet to be extracted, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has claimed.

Mr Ewing said the amount left was beyond doubt, as he argued oil and gas would be a key element in the Scottish government's bid to "re-establish Scottish independence".

His remarks contrasted with a recent report by industry body Oil & Gas UK.

It suggested there could be as little as 14 billion barrels left.

This would mean Scotland has already exhausted almost three-quarters of its total reserves.

Mr Ewing told the SNP conference in Inverness: "You will have seen recently it has been confirmed beyond peradventure that the amount of oil and gas left for this country is about as much as has already been extracted.

"Except, unlike in the 80s when oil was barely more than $10 a barrel, it is now far more than that. And therefore, we have an asset which everybody knows in Scotland will drive us forward to independence."

He continued: "Of course, our opponents have always fancied themselves as amateur geologists, because in the 70s they said: 'It's running out in the 80s'. In the 80s they said: 'It's running out in the 90s'. In the 90s: 'It's running out in the noughties'.

"Well, have you heard them speak now? They can't, can they? Because they know that it is keeping 196,000 Scots in employment."

'Radical innovations'
The Oil & Gas UK report, which was released earlier this month, suggested there could be as little as 14 billion barrels left in the North Sea but it also presented a more optimistic figure which put the reserves at 24 billion - closer to the 30 billion already extracted.

However, the report stated it would require "radical" technical and commercial innovations to extract.

Last week, Prime Minister David Cameron called on the oil industry to "reset" academic predictions amid claims that universities believe oil and gas is already "four-fifths of the way through".

He was speaking during a visit to BP in Aberdeen, as the oil giant announced a new £4.5bn oil project west of the Shetland Islands.

However, BP chief executive Bob Dudley said UK production had declined since 2000 "faster than many of us predicted", and said the picture beyond 2030 was "hard to predict".

First Minister Alex Salmond also raised the issue at the SNP conference.

He said: "When he was making the BP announcement, David Cameron claimed his geography teacher at Eton had told him that all the oil would be gone by the turn of the century.

"The Prime Minister's memory is faulty. It wasn't his geography teacher - it was successive Labour and Tory governments.

"Now the cat is well and truly out of the bag and we know that oil and gas will be extracted from the waters around Scotland for at least the next 40 years."

Sourced : BBC

Energy Recovery Inc Named 'Game Changer' of the Year

2011-10-22T18:59:00.003Z

SAN LEANDRO, Calif., Oct 19, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Energy Recovery Inc ERII +2.05% , a leader in the design and development of energy recovery devices for desalination and other industrial processes, has been selected as a California Clean Technology "Game Changer" for 2011 in the category of Innovation in Energy and Water by Grow-California for its leadership, innovation and impact on California's clean tech industry and economy. The company will receive its "Game Changer" award at the conclusion of the Clean Tech Innovation Conference at the Kaiser Center, in downtown Oakland, to be held on November 2nd and 3rd.

"We are pleased to receive the 'Game Changer' of the year award for our innovative PX energy recovery technology. It is rewarding to be able to reduce energy consumption while also helping to produce billions of gallons of water for millions of people around the world," said Tom Rooney, president and CEO of ERI. "To be in the same company as important 'green' contributors such as Google, Tesla and others is an honor."

Clean technology is considered a key strategy across the nation and throughout the world to create much-needed jobs, improve the economy and lessen the demand for fossil fuels.

"This company is a prime example of a true game changer in the clean tech space," said Jon Gregory, president and CEO of Grow California. He added, "There were more than 200 quality companies nominated which means that the 2011 Game Changes are an elite group and an excellent representation of California's leading role in the world's clean tech industry."

For more information about the California Clean Tech conference and the "Game Changer of the Year" awards, visit: http://www.grow-california.com/ .

About Energy Recovery Inc

Energy Recovery Inc ERII +2.05% designs and develops energy recovery devices that significantly reduce energy consumption for desalination and other industrial processes. Energy Recovery's prominence in the desalination market includes notable technologies such as the PX Pressure Exchanger(TM) (PX(TM)) devices, the ERI(TM) TurboCharger hydraulic turbine energy recovery devices and the ERI(TM) AquaBold(TM) and ERI(TM) AquaSpire(TM) high- pressure pumps. In total, Energy Recovery has more than 12,000 devices installed worldwide, helping to save more than 9.5 billion kilowatt hours of energy per year. The company is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area with offices in key centers worldwide, including Madrid, Shanghai, and the United Arab Emirates. For more information about Energy Recovery Inc, please visit www.energyrecovery.com

Sourced : Energy Recovery Inc

Energy Recovery Inc
Audrey Bold, +1-510-746-2529
abold@energyrecovery.com
or
Schwartz MSL
Steven Webb, +1-415-512-0770
ERI@schwartzmsl.com

Algeria sets plans to achieve 40% renewable energy by 2030

2011-10-19T22:39:00.002Z

Personal Notes : Previously in this blog I have covered Algeria's decision to invest 60 Billion USD in renewable energy. Now this target of 40% by 2030. That's way better than the arms race that's been going lately between Algeria and Morocco. It opens the perspectives of a close collaboration in the field of energy and we should be working to pursue grid integration and compatibility with the Algerians. At any rate, we are seeing DESERTEC take shape, pretty much without DESERTEC, except for the 500Mw plant that is to be implemented in Morocco.

It doesn't come as a surprise after the Algerian energy minister went on the record stating that an initiative such as DESERTEC will not be yet "another form of economical colonization", meaning not a free for all where Europeans harvest energy in the region for dirt cheap.

Like I wrote in this blog, Morocco and other countries in MENA are seeing their energy profile change rapidly, so most of the energy produced here will be consumed locally, DESERTEC only makes sense after we cover our own needs, and that relegates it to quite a distant future.

About the Algerian figures, well the 60 Billion USD figure is staggering compared to Morocco's 9 Billion Euros investment. Its to be followed closely, with such an amount of cash they could lead the race in no time. But Morocco has a knack for doing more with less and if we compare the targets, ours is 42% by 2020 and theirs is 40% by 2030, still the respective amounts of energy produced is key. Does Algeria include its hydrocarbures production in this figure, will it produce 40% of its total energy potential, including oil and gas from renewables ? If so then hats off. To be followed.

Perhaps because it has noted what’s happened in neighboring Morocco and Egypt, following their progressive renewable energy plans, now Algeria has announced an investment of more than $20 billion in renewable electricity over the next 20 years. The move would bring all three MENA nations to the forefront of climate actions worldwide.

Egypt now leads all the MENA nations in attractiveness for renewable energy investment through the EU’s Clean Development Mechanism and Morocco – which already has a grid linked up to Europe – has become a key Desertec investment point since announcing its plans to provide 42% of its own electricity from solar, which is by far the most ambitious plan in the world. What’s more, as a kingdom, there is no opposition party to sabotage renewable energy as the Republican party does in the US.

Algeria’s electric utility, Sonelgaz has a very fast-growing customer base of 6.2 million. It grew 3.9% from 2007 to 2008. Currently, most of Algeria’s electricity is produced through natural gas, although earlier this year the country launched a hybrid plant that boosts gas-fired production with solar panels.

Nordine Bouterfa, head of the Sonelgaz group in Algeria, told a press conference: “The total sum of electricity production development between 2011 and 2021 is nearly $35.4bn, $20bn of which will be dedicated to renewable energy. By 2030, some 40 per cent of electricity production for national consumption will come from renewable energy.”

In this plan, Algeria will be following in Morocco’s ambitious solar footsteps.

It is very encouraging to see these emerging nations embrace clean energy. Algeria will be split almost 50/50 between traditional and renewable energy investment. These are the nations where – if they followed the fossil energy route – the next 50 years of increased carbon emissions would be greatest.

So it is the energy choices of these nations that will make or break civilization, since it is in the world’s emerging economies that electricity growth is fastest.

HSBC Bombshell: Oil Will Run Out in 50 Years

2011-10-16T19:04:00.003Z

Personal Notes : I was researching peak oil and I came across this, true it dates back to april, but its too big to pass upon. Yes I do believe in peak oil, don't you ? You should. HSBC's senior global economist Karen Ward thinks so. Its obvious stating that HSBC, the world's second largest bank has got some pretty deep pockets and access to cutting edge expertise for its white papers, but skeptics have a thick skin, so let us state the obvious.

Also I kind of like Karen's attitude in life, she's 'too big to fail' or 'too senior to be bothered' and will not be scared away by the oil lobby, I like that.

Article by Ben Jervey

The senior global economist at the world's second largest bank warned that the global oil supply might run out in under 50 years.

"Energy resources are scarce," wrote Karen Ward, HSBC's senior global economist in a research report that was obtained by CNBC. "Even if demand doesn’t increase, there could be as little as 49 years of oil left."

Speaking on CNBC, she raised her estimate by a year. “We’re confident that there are around 50 years of oil left. There's possibly more out there, but the confident estimates are around 50 years."

Here's Ward on CNBC:

Sourced : http://www.good.is

Elec Expo 2011 in Casablanca with double digit growth

2011-10-16T16:24:00.001Z

Press Release /

Increasing numbers of exhibitors, rising numbers of sold exhibition space and a broad internationalisation. Against this backdrop the 6th International Electricity, Lighting, Electrical Engineering and Industrial Automation Trade Fair will be held in Casablanca. Morocco's leading trade show will be organised by Fenelec-the Moroccan Federation of Electricity, Electronics and Renewable Energies, in close cooperation with the German trade fair specialists fairtrade and their Moroccan partners Forum 7. The trade show enjoys a wide ranged conference program, and it is accompanied by a targeted media campaign. elec expo is scheduled for 22-26 November 2011 at the International Fairgrounds-OFEC in Casablanca, Morocco.

The 6th elec expo is going to be held concurrently with the 1st EneR Event 2011, Morocco's International Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Trade Fair. “Up to date 148 international and Moroccan market leaders form 14 countries have confirmed their participation, among them ABB, Chint, Eurosol, GE General Electric, Lapp Kabel, OBO Bettermann, Phoenix Contact, Siemens, Solarworld, Soitec and Weidmüller. This marks an increase of 30 % with the exhibitors and +25% of gross exhibition space compared to elec expo 2009″, stated Jana Hofmann of fairtrade. “In addition, China, France, Germany, Italy and Spain will be present with country pavilions. We are confident to reach our targets of 180 exhibitors and 15.200 sqm gross exhibition space until November. ”

According to Youssef Tagmouti, President of Fenelec, “the elec expo conferences deal with topics of high value for the Kingdom”s needs and priorities. For this edition, the conference and workshop program includes the German-Moroccan Energy Efficiency Conference, the French-Moroccan Conference on Renewable Energies, the Exhibitors” Forum featuring technical presentations of exhibiting companies on products and services suitable for the Moroccan market.” Further, AREA – The African Renewable Energy Alliance will schedule an AREA meeting during elec expo 2011 in cooperation with Fenelec.

Until today, the targeted media campaign reached over 1 million readers of national and international business magazines and professional journals. Press releases in three languages were published by the major multipliers of the branch, in their print- and online versions. Lots of animated banners and full page advertisements were found on the websites, in magazines and in the weekly newsletters of the leading infobrokers.

elec expo 2011 enjoys the official support of the Moroccan Ministry of Energy and Mines, Water and Environment, of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and New Technologies and of the Ministry of Foreign Trade. Official Sponsor is the Moroccan public utilities provider ONE-Office National de l’Electricité.

Visit www.elec-expo.com for more details.

About Fenelec:

Based in Casablanca, the National Federation of Electricity, Electronics and Renewable Energies today counts 320 member companies, representing more than 95% of products and services in the Moroccan energy, electrical engineering and electronics' sector. The staff of the member companies amount to more than 65.000. In 2010, the members' annual turn-over exceeded 4 billion Euros.

Desalination Market to Increase by 320.3% by 2020

2011-10-16T12:36:00.000Z

Personal Notes : MENA is the leading force behind this increase. There is not a single government in the region that is not pursuing desalination in order to alleviate its water problem. The opportunity here is that coupling desalination with renewable energy makes it viable on the long term. Its not cheap, as there important investment needed to get there, but renewable energy being a resource that is not subject to depletion, you can see the global efficiency of this tandem increase proportionally as initial costs are offset over time.

Depleting water supplies, coupled with increasing water demand, are driving the global market for desalination technology, which is expected to reach $52.4 billion by 2020, up 320.3% from $12.5 billion in 2010. According to a recent report from energy research publisher SBI Energy, membrane technology reverse osmosis will see the largest growth, reaching $39.46 billion by 2020.

The increasing world population, which is estimated to reach 7.52 billion by 2020, up from 6.85 billion in 2010, is depleting a limited fresh water supply with agricultural demands and urbanization leading to more water consumption per person across the globe. According to the report, industrialization is spreading advanced water extraction technology, which is quickly diminishing water resources.

"Economic and population growth are the largest drivers for desalination technology," said Shelly Carr, publisher of SBI Energy. "The explosive growth of this market is due to a solution-based alternative to the diminishing supply of the world's most important resource."

Desalination technology involves extracting salt and other unwanted minerals from saltwater or brackish water in order to produce fresh water. There are two types of technologies: thermal which relies on heat, and membrane which utilizes semi-permeable membranes to separate salt from seawater and brackish water. According to the report, the cost of desalination is highly influenced by the amount of energy consumed, causing energy efficient membrane technologies, specifically reverse osmosis, to be the most viable option.

"The lower operating costs of membrane technologies, which include reverse osmosis, microfiltration, ultrafiltration and nanofiltration, make them a more attractive option," notes Carr. "This segment will grow significantly more than its thermal counterpart."

Press release : http://www.sbireports.com
Sourced : Marketwire.

Airlight, A Small and Effective Swiss CSP Firm does Business in Morocco

2011-10-15T16:54:00.000Z

Personal Notes : Here's an excerpt from their website : "August 2011 - The CPV experimental stage ended with excellent results. ALE is now ready to commercialize this technology with particular competitive costs." Just a two months later, they're landing this project in Morocco. I like that, small and effective with a can do attitude.There are many such cement plants in the country, so this pilot plant when its achieved will undoubtedly help them land other such deals. Congrats.

A cement plant in Morocco will switch on sunshine from Switzerland this year.

The world’s fifth largest cement producer, with an annual production capacity of approximately 75 million tons of cement, Italcementi Group is pioneering a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant at the site of one of its cement plants – in Ait Baha, Morocco. CSP for industrial use is becoming more common in the MENA region as the oil age draws to a close. The Saudis are pioneering CSP in oil fields to extract oil, for example.

The Airlight Energy solar project in Morocco will cost €2.7 million, but bring greater efficiency than other CSP. Using a novel, modular Fresnel collector system, the Swiss company’s ‘Flaming Air’ air-based fresnel receivers can generate temperatures of above 650 degrees celcius, using low-pressure receiver technology.

A much larger than usual 9.5 meter mirror enables very high concentration compared to existing systems that are typically smaller, around 5 meters. The size is key.

“The air pipe is at low pressure like a traditional HVAC duct for air conditioning; despite the higher temperature, the technology is simple” says chief technology officer Andrea Pedretti, in an interview with CSPToday. “We are able to use air, which requires a large pipe, because our structure is large enough and receiver does not create any shadow on the primary mirror.”

The mirror surfaces are Teflon so desert dust and dirt cannot attach to the surface easily. Onsite pre-cast concrete and plastic fibre reinforced support structures make it cheap and the ‘Inflatech’ aluminized polyester foils make it super efficient. These reflectors are housed within a controlled atmosphere, with transparent ETFE foils above and a fiberglass membrane beneath, which protect the reflectors from dust and humidity.

“The collector cost is much less compared to steel or aluminum frame and current glass or aluminum mirror. Our mirror foil is 0.5€/per square meter compared to 20€ per square meter or more for glass mirror. No special materials are used; concrete can be manufactured everywhere” says Pedretti.

But he cautions that erecting the system in Morocco comes with a proviso.”An accurate steel frame cannot be produced in a low developed country and should be manufactured in Europe and transported to Africa”.

The project will be installed within the next twelve months. The power it generates from the sun will be integrated into the existing system of heat recovery of the cement plant to provide 150 KW of electric power with three solar collectors and a storage unit. The solar power will replace part of the fossil power consumption of the cement plant with green energy resources, saving .

The Italcementi Group is the former co-chair of the Cement Sustainability Initiative, evidencing a real commitment to finding a solution for sustainable development in the very fossil-energy-dependent cement industry.

“The supply agreement with Airlight Energy represents a further tangible improvement of the sustainable development policy we are implementing in the cement industry” said Giuseppe de Beni, managing director of Italgen. “It is an innovative application that will combine the heat of the production process with that one generated from a renewable source”.

Desertec Drops 2050 Electricity Target, Tagesspiegel Reports

2011-10-15T16:29:00.000Z

Personal Notes : Well, what their new target then ? Anyway, whatever energy is produced here will be consumed locally first, we might not be able to show a surplus that could be sold to Europe before a while. The average Moroccan energy profile is on the rise due to more and more energy hungry devices being plugged to the network. Forecast shows that "by the time Morocco will be able to export energy in significant amounts the average Moroccan might consume up to 3 to 4 thousands kilowatts yearly *" and were not talking households here.

The Desertec Industrial Initiative, which plans to generate solar power in North Africa, is backing away from a target of generating about 15 percent of Europe’s electricity demand by 2050, Tagesspiegel reported, citing Aglaia Wieland, the group’s chief strategist.

Sourced : http://www.bloomberg.com

* Figure sourced : Aziz Bennouna from the National Center for Scientific & Technical Research http://www.cnr.ac.ma/

MEDGRID, As in South North Energy Transmission

2011-10-15T16:13:00.000Z

At a dinner debate organised by the European Energy Forum on 5 October, leaders of Medgrid and Desertec, two key projects involved in renewable energy development in South-East Mediterranean Countries (SEMCs) presented their visions and roles in attaining EU objectives in the region. André Merlin, CEO of the France-led Medgrid consortium, president of French electricity distribution network operator ERDF and of CIGRE, the International Council on Large Electric Systems, explains to Europolitics the possibilities and challenges of future large-scale electricity exchange in the Mediterranean.

How is Medgrid embedded in the Union’s Mediterranean Solar Plan (MSP)?

First of all, the idea of interconnections between Europe and SEMCs is quite an old one. At first, a ring around the Mediterranean was supposed to synchronously connect all the grids in the area. More recently, a new interest has arisen due to the development of renewable energy, mainly solar and wind. In order to help SEMCs to invest in this technology, the EU through Article 9 of the Renewables Directive (1) is ready to buy part of the electricity produced there at a higher price. Medgrid is a central piece in the framework of the MSP, which foresees generating 20 GW of electricity by 2020 and exporting 25% of it to Europe. Such a quantity is beyond the capacity of a ring: we need to have direct submarine connections as well.

The idea of Medgrid is to define the ways such a plan could be realized by 2020–25. We have five working groups, focusing on different aspects: technology, economy, financing, regulation change and strategic opportunities. The objective is to have a master plan ready for 2014.

We need to emphasise that it is a co-development project for an exchange in both directions, not a decision from the North to the South. Europe’s interest is to help these countries to develop, even more after the Arab Spring, and one important subject is energy and electricity. Medgrid can be an instrument in these efforts.

How does the Commission support the studies?

The interconnections with SEMCs are included in the strategic review of 2008: it is one of the four main projects, so the Commission is really aware of what we do. But for the moment we did not ask for any subsidies; we could perhaps consider that in the future. We have also an agreement with the European Commission to cooperate with an ongoing EU study on a similar subject, which involves many Medgrid stakeholders. Two Directorates-General support our actions: DG Energy and DG Development. The cooperation goes smoothly, as I used to work as a special advisor of the former Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs in 2008–2009. The Joint Research Centre with Director-General Dominique Ristori is also really supportive of our actions.

What is Medgrid’s relation to Desertec, the German-led solar project in the region?

The first difference between the two is that Desertec is looking ahead to 2050. Our deadline is shorter: 2020-25. The second: Desertec’s main focus is generation, while we focus on transmission. The work done in transmission by Medgrid could be included in the work of Desertec to see how to connect generation to the European grid. At the same time, we are very interested to know about Desertec’s projects. It is crucial to be able to define the necessary size of the connections. We are complementary with Desertec, we are not in competition. In fact, on 24 November we are going to sign a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ in the presence of Mr Oettinger, just before the Council meeting of energy ministers. I should add that Mr Paul van Son, CEO of the Desertec Industrial Initiative, is a close friend of mine. We were working together in the CIGRE. He was at the time the secretary of a study committee which I was chairing.

Still, Desertec identifies transmission as one of its work areas.

Our studies will be of great help to them in this work. I should say that in Medgrid, we have the best experts in Europe because of our connection to CIGRE. Colleagues in Desertec know that they should consult us on what the best choices are in the field of transmission. I should add another fact: we are building an interconnection which will operate in both directions. We could export from the South renewable energy to Europe and at the same time we could bring conventional energy to the SEMCs. The interest is great for these countries because the prices of electricity are higher and the peak demand, used for air-conditioning, is in the summer, while European demand peaks in winter. This creates a complementary structure of the two power systems. The profitability of the investment will come from the export of renewable energy to Europe, but also from the export from Europe to the South. The present situation between Spain and Morocco, where there is already an interconnection, shows this trend. Of course, we have to build interconnections in Europe as well!

What are the main challenges ahead of the construction?

The main challenge will be to find the money at good conditions. If we consider an HVDC (2) submarine connection between, for instance, Italy and Tunisia, the cost of a link of 1,000 MW will be close to €1 billion. One possibility for finance is an investment from the two transmission system operators. The second, as allowed by the Renewables Directive, is to set up national plans: in this case, we have to change national legislation. We are ready to do that. The new government in Tunisia is open to cooperation as well.

We are also in partnership with ONE (3) in Morocco, with Egypt, Jordan, Syria and most recently, STEG (4), the Tunisian electricity company. We want to extend these programmes to Algeria, where we have contact with Sonelgaz, and to Libya, as soon as the country is in a good situation.

The country playing a key role here is Turkey, which is in the process of operating a synchronized connection between its power grid and the European one. Turkey has an ambition to become an energy hub between Europe and SEMCs, and beyond, towards Iraq, Iran and maybe the Gulf states. We have good contacts in Turkey: RTE (5)signed an agreement with TEIAS (6)under my leadership as CEO.

What is the estimated cost of the whole investment?

If you consider that in 2020-25 we would like to import 5 GW from the South, it will be around €5 billion. The master plan will give a more accurate figure: final decisions will be taken based on them in 2014-2015.

When do you expect renewable energy prices to be competitive with electricity generated from fossil sources?

It depends on the type of energy. Regarding wind, conditions in the SEMCs are very favourable: along the Atlantic coast, generation time duration is around 4,000 hours a year, double the European figure. Here, wind energy is already competitive with gas. The important question is the more expensive solar system. Using thermal concentration technology, the price level is at least €200 per MWh, compared to wind which is €90 in Europe, €60 in the South. There is strong competition worldwide. We know that the Chinese have invested a lot in photovoltaic cells, and it appears that the price of these cells decreases a lot, about 20% a year. Certainly, for the future, we should consider using them more extensively. In Europe, concentrating on photovoltaic technology is very promising and it is developed by one of our partners, Soitec.

What are the chances of completing the integrated electricity and gas market of the EU by the 2014 deadline?

I have been involved in this question since the beginning, and I think the most important point is to develop the power grid interconnections, work which is already belated in Europe. Even more connections are needed to integrate renewable energy into the system, and to have a security of supply to avoid the large faults - brownouts - we had in November 2006. Short of them, energy policy goals cannot be reached. The problem is not to find the money, because interconnections are not so expensive, rather to get permission. Local governments have a strong position in building new overhead lines: replacing them with underground ones will cost ten times more. We have to upgrade the European power network and at the same time extend the interconnections beyond the EU, particularly in the East towards Russia and in the South to the Mediterranean.

(1) Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources
(2) High-Voltage Direct Current
(3) National Office of Electricity
(4) Société Tunisienne de l’Electricité et du Gaz
(5) Electricity Transport Network in France
(6) Turkish Electricity Transmission Corporation

Sourced : http://www.europolitics.info

Morocco Discusses Renewables, Global Warming and Climate Change at the GCC

2011-10-15T08:48:00.000Z

Personal Notes : Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan chairs GCC meeting in Jeddah. It is the first time Morocco is attending after having been invited to the GCC board along with Jordan as a prelude to their full integration of the council.

2011-09-11 22:09:14

Jeddah, 11 Sept. 2011 -- Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) met under the chairmanship of UAE Foreign Minister HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss the latest developments in the regional, Arab and international arenas.

Issues of interest to the GCC and the current situation in Yemen will also top the agenda of the 120th meeting of the GCC Ministerial Council.

Foreign ministers of Jordan and Morocco are attending the meeting for the first time.

The ministers will also tackle topics related to renewable energy, global warming and climate change.

Sourced : http://www.wam.ae

IDE Technologies Introduces Worlds First Green Reverse Osmosis System for Water Desalination

2011-10-15T08:29:00.003Z

Personal Notes : Israeli scientist make inroads into turning desalination into a sustainable process, and the way to do so is twofold, firstly reduce the amounts of energy consumption and secondly cut down on the chemicals used to clean the membranes.

Like I said before in this blog, Israel and its cutting edge companies in the field of desalination are loosing big by not seeking a normalization with Arab countries on the terms of King Abdulla's peace initiative. Indeed it is a whole market they're passing upon, MENA, and that is precisely the market where their technology would be most welcome and where growth in desalination is forecasted to be the most important.

Tel–Aviv, Israel, September 6, 2011 – IDE Technologies launched IDE PROGREEN, the industry’s first green Reverse Osmosis (RO) system for water desalination. Representing a clean and economical approach to high-quality water production, IDE PROGREEN reduces operational costs and increases ROI by optimizing the energy consumption, eliminating the use and handling of chemicals, and offering a customizable, self-maintained platform. This results in affordable, sustainable, high-quality water for applications worldwide including industry, agriculture and drinking water.

It overcomes the challenges of minimizing desalination impact on the environment by eliminating the use of chemicals in the pre-treatment and desalination processes. The new water production system is compact and flexible, which makes it easy to transport and install. This significantly reduces costs and eliminates the need to invest in expensive infrastructure. In addition, as part of the desalination process, the patented RO Membrane Direct Osmosis Cleaning (DOC) system reduces the amount of energy consumed in the desalination process, and enables chemical-free membrane cleaning for uninterrupted operation and stable performance, which increases the system’s availability.

“Given today’s critical water resources and environmental challenges, we are proud to be the first to introduce a unique, eco-friendly system that increases ROI, offers lowest maintenance costs, ensures uninterrupted operation and reduces long-term energy consumption,” said Avshalom Felber, CEO of IDE. “With over 45 years of industry expertise and 400 plants installed in 40 countries worldwide, we are well experienced to get the job done. We can now provide environmentally-sustainable and cost-effective water desalination systems across the globe with all the benefits of a comprehensive desalination system in one neat, compact package.”
IDE PROGREEN helps to further save money by utilizing highly efficient pumps, coupled with an energy recovery system, to reduce energy consumption. The modular product is designed for capacities ranging from 500 to 10,000 cubic meters per day per unit, depending on water type; and is available containerized or skid-mounted, depending on the capacity.

The new IDE PROGREENTM system will be available by the end of 2011.

About IDE Technologies Ltd.
IDE is a world leader in water technologies. Since 1965, the company has built 400 desalination plants in 40 countries worldwide, with a cumulative installed capacity of over 2,000,000 m3/day. IDE's technologies for optimized, high-end thermal and membrane (Reverse Osmosis) desalination are recognized as the most advanced in the world. The company designed, built and currently operates many of the world’s mega-sized SWRO plants, in addition to some of the largest MED and MVC desalination plants. Its customized desalination plants provide high quality water for use in industries, mines, refineries and power stations, as well as for drinking water and agriculture.

IDE is jointly owned by two of Israel’s largest industrial enterprises: ICL Group (50%), one of the world’s leading fertilizer and specialty chemicals companies, and Delek Group (50%), the leading energy and infrastructure group based out of Israel.

Sourced : http://www.waterefficiency.net/the-latest/ide-ro-desal.aspx

Turning 'Arab Spring' Green: Moroccan Leaders to Speak at UN on Importance of Water & Renewable Energy for Economic Development

2011-10-12T22:42:00.004Z

Personal Notes : Its a high level delegation alright, as you would expect since its taking place at the UN. Its an opportunity for Morocco to give exposure to its efforts in the field of renewables and a follow up by Moroccan officials on His Majesty's King Mohamed VI speech at the U.N Millennium Development Goals Summit.

But pay close attention to the fact that renewable energy is associated with water, so is desalination finally becoming a hot topic ?

Its going to be MASEN's head first address at the U.N, and I hope we will be able to follow on regularly with updates on our progress as far as our solar initiative is concerned. As for ONE's Fassi Fihri, he is an old hand at international politics, he recently negotiated a 10 years yearly 640 million cubic meters gas deal with Algeria, no small feat considering the state of our bilateral relations. Adyel is a division chief at MEM, very much a technocrat and also a key person, his division is that of Economic and Legal Studies, yes, the guys that say its going to be done so and not otherwise since they conduct the economic feasibility studies and also set the legal framework.

This blog will report on this address as soon as official speech transcripts are made available.

Also worth noting is that Suez Environnement is amongst the speakers at this address, its interesting in the context of Veolia Environnement struggling to sell its assets in Morocco, these two are fierce competitors, so it seems Moroccan officials have their minds made about who is going to fill in the shoes of Veolia if it ceases its operations in Morocco.

Moroccan Energy officials to address Sept. 20 forum in New York City at start of 66th Session of United Nations General Assembly

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Next week, top officials from Morocco's Ministry of Energy, Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN), and National Electricity Office (ONE) will join business and NGO leaders in a forum at the United Nations in New York City on the key role of "Water and Renewable Energy in Economic, Regional and Local Development." Morocco won praise last year from Earth Day and U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson for its "commitment to a clean, green economy" and groundbreaking "National Charter for the Environment & Sustainable Development," the first of its kind in Africa and the Arab and Muslim world.

Public Forum

"Morocco on the Move: Water & Renewable Energy Strategy in Economic, Regional & Local Development"

on Tuesday, September 20, 2011
1:15-2:30 p.m.

at United Nations Headquarters, Room 5NLB
New York, NY

Speakers

Mohammed Taoufik ADYEL: Director of Economic Studies, Morocco Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment
Ali FASSI FIHRI: General Director, Morocco National Electricity Office (ONE)
Mustapha BAKKOURY: President/Director, Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN)

Experts from: the Water World Council, UNDP, Suez Environnement

Sourced : Moroccan American Trade and Investment Center / PR Newswire / Quotemedia

The Moroccan American Trade and Investment Center (MATIC) was established under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI as a vehicle to promote the Moroccan-U.S. FTA. MATIC is an American based non-profit trade association that assists the country of Morocco in its quest to encourage economic growth and stability through the promotion of its private sector. For more information, please visit www.moroccanamericantrade.com

EBRD Orders a Market Demand Study of Sustainable Energy Investment potential in Morocco

2011-10-09T11:19:00.000Z

Personal Notes : Its interesting to see what kind of insight the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is after. Obviously they have identified the weaknesses at coming up with an integrated strategy beyond large utility programs. The report should be publicly available and might not please everyone at the energy ministry. After all as EBRD points out " the lack of a coordinated and agreed statutory framework, suitable institutional infrastructure, defined implementation strategies and adequately qualified experts has handicapped any broadly effective promotion of renewable energy sources and enhancement of energy efficiency."

This cannot be allowed to drag on indefinitely, EBRD is hampered in its efforts to implement credit lines through the SEFF mechanism because it has no visibility on what Morocco is doing aside from its large scale utilities program. On the up note, it wants to be able to finance projects "that enhance industrial energy efficiency, particularly in small and medium size enterprises; fund small scale renewable energy projects; improve energy efficiency in existing buildings; and enhance household energy efficiency by the measures like insulation, installment of energy efficient devices, and use of renewable energy sources." The keyword being "Bankability"

This is a welcome development, the report should be publicly available within 4 months and will be covered in this blog when finalized.

Morocco is a member of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the EBRD) and its Board of Directors is expected to consider in due course a proposal enabling the EBRD to finance technical assistance and related activities in the country.

Assignment Background: Energy demand in Morocco has been rising steadily, in particular the demand for electric power, and since 2004 annual growth rates in electricity consumption have averaged seven per cent. Power generation is primarily fuelled by fossil energy sources such as coal, natural gas and heavy fuel oils. The country possesses virtually no fossil energy sources of its own and must therefore import its fuel supply (Morocco produces small volumes of oil and natural gas from the Essaouira Basin and small amounts of natural gas from the Gharb Basin). Both in absolute and relative terms, Morocco's high fuel import rate in excess of 95 per cent makes it North Africa’s largest energy importer.

Morocco's dependency on imports to meet the rapidly rising demand for energy represents a financial drain for the country. With the majority of Morocco’s power generation infrastructure relying on imported hydrocarbons, the current financial burden is unlikely to reduce in the near future. Forecasted demand will cause Moroccan greenhouse gas emissions, currently still low, to rise considerably.

However, Morocco can succeed in reducing its dependence on energy imports and fostering a more sustainable energy supply by tapping into its enormous potential for renewable energy sources and targeting greater energy efficiency.

To date, however, the lack of a coordinated and agreed statutory framework, suitable institutional infrastructure, defined implementation strategies and adequately qualified experts has handicapped any broadly effective promotion of renewable energy sources and enhancement of energy efficiency.

Within this context the EBRD intends to engage a Consultant to prepare a Market Demand Study to assess sustainable energy (SE) investment potential in Morocco.

Assignment Description: The EBRD intends to promote sustainable energy in Morocco as a part of its Sustainable Energy Initiative and in this context, the EBRD is considering the development of market-based financing mechanisms for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Morocco. This could take the form of:

- Dedicated energy efficiency and renewable energy credit lines that provide funds to local financial institutions for on-lending for investments in energy efficiency and/or renewable energy projects;
- Direct lending facility under which lending to medium sized projects can be facilitated;
Involvement of Energy Service Companies in energy efficiency projects; and
- Direct financing of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in larger companies or as stand-alone project.

One of the key limitations for wider project implementation of SE financing is the lack of financial resources and proper lending facilities, particularly for small-scale projects. Local financial institutions view the SE sector as higher risk, due to lack of technical capacity on the part of lenders to evaluate such projects and potential borrowers being unable to establish bankability of their projects. Sustainable energy facilities developed by the EBRD could become an instrumental in attracting the attention of the financial institutions to this new field and developing a competitive market for these products.

A very good market entry strategy in this area could be to work with local financial intermediaries on developing dedicated energy efficiency credit lines to enhance availability of financing for medium and small-scale energy efficiency investments and for smaller renewable energy projects. The Bank will consider efficiency and renewable energy credit lines (Sustainable Energy Financing Facility model) through the Moroccan banking sector including the necessary technical cooperation support. These financing facilities will be targeted to:

(i) enhance industrial energy efficiency, particularly in small and medium size enterprises;
(ii) fund small scale renewable energy projects;
(iii) improve energy efficiency in existing buildings; and
(iv) enhance household energy efficiency by the measures like insulation, instalment of energy efficient devices, and use of renewable energy sources.

The main objectives of the Assignment shall be: to prepare a Market Demand Study that assesses the sustainable energy investment potential in Morocco and provides sufficient information to guide the EBRD through the design and launch of a successful financing mechanism for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Morocco. It shall be prepared through:

- analysis of the latest available studies, statistical information, recent policy developments
- research into the demand for energy efficiency and renewable energy investment projects
- review of activities of government (state policy and programmes), other International Financial Institutions as well as bilateral and multilateral donors active in Morocco in the field of energy efficiency, renewable energy and carbon financing
- investigations into the situation of the (private) banking sector, namely its readiness to accept credit lines and guarantee mechanisms
- investigations into the situation of industry, including SMEs, the commercial and public/municipal sector as well as the residential sector and their access to funding and - a detailed analysis of market barriers for energy efficiency, renewable energy and carbon financing projects.

The Consultant shall provide added value by capturing local knowledge and placing emphasis on the analysis of information and trends, and the provision of recommendations.

The Market Demand Study will:

a) provide sufficient information to ensure that EBRD understands the local sustainable energy market and how best to structure market-based financing mechanisms for sustainable energy projects in Morocco;
b) identify barriers to sustainable energy investments and provide recommendations for overcoming those barriers on various levels (legal, institutional, fiscal, financial, behavioural, awareness, etc.) and a potential role of EBRD in this process;
c) appraise opportunities to promote market-based financing mechanisms to Moroccan financial institutions and/or to end-users in the industrial, commercial, public/municipal service and residential sectors;
d) identify and evaluate local engineering capacity and evaluate potential sustainable energy investment opportunities;
e) identify existing and/or potential market for Energy Service Companies (ESCO);
f) identify market barriers and provide recommendations upon which EBRD can structure and implement credit lines, direct lending facility and direct financing as well as work with Energy Service Companies; and, if appropriate, renewable energy investment projects in the Moroccan power, industrial, commercial, public/municipal service and residential sectors;
g) identify barriers and provide recommendations upon which EBRD can provide carbon financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects; and
h) recommend a set of technical assistance objectives upon which EBRD can structure and initiate a package of technical assistance and ensure the successful implementation of a market-based financing mechanisms for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Morocco.

Assignment Duration: It is expected that the Assignment will start in November 2011 and will have a duration of four months. No extension is envisaged.

If you fit the profile as a consultant visit http://www.devex.com/en/projects/market-demand-study-of-sustainable-energy-investment-potential-in-morocco for more details

Veolia Environment Rates Sell

2011-10-08T18:21:00.002Z

Personal Notes : "Veolia Environnement Maroc has been awarded three concession contracts to provide water, wastewater and electricity services which are managed by Redal for the city of Rabat/Salé and by Amendis for the cities of Tangiers and Tetouan. Veolia Environment Maroc currently provides services to 34 local authorities serving about 3.6 million people.".

Well, that what their website says, what the article below points at is that this is all going to change pretty soon. Morocco is on list of the countries where Veolia is loosing money, so Redal and Amendis are going to be sold. Problem is they don't seem to find buyers, even worse their own share value is taking a beating from the market. Redal and Amendis might have to fill for bankruptcy if Veolia doesn't find any other exit solution, so who is going to step in in their shoes ? Suez Environment is a likely prospect, after all they are making money in the very same sector where Veolia doesn't, maybe they know a couple of things about this sector that others don't. To be followed.

Veolia Environnement SA (VIE), the world’s biggest water company, may add to write-downs it booked in the first half as management struggles with plans to cut losses by selling assets as economic growth weakens, UBS AG said.

“While we believe the largest write-downs on individual assets happened in the first half, it is likely that there is more to come,” UBS analysts including Per Lekander wrote in a report. “Selling underperforming assets, often with goodwill attached to them, in a bear market may prove challenging.”

Veolia fell 3.8 percent to 10.495 euros by 11:34 a.m. in Paris trading. UBS cut its rating on the stock to “sell” from “neutral,” saying the company was too risky for the price.

Veolia Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Antoine Frerot plans to halt operations in at least 37 countries and sell 1.3 billion euros ($1.75 billion) of assets this year to restore profit. The company, which lost half its value this year, posted a first-half loss on write-downs on operations in Italy, Morocco and the U.S. and said it uncovered fraud at a U.S. business.

Third-quarter results, due Nov. 10, aren’t expected to be strong, UBS said. Veolia plans an investor day on around Dec. 6.

Veolia, based in Paris, faces price pressure on water and waste contracts with cash-strapped municipalities and may also suffer difficulties with labor relations, the bank said.

Suez Environnement, a smaller rival also based in the city, sold 70 percent of the regulated business of Bristol Water to Capstone Infrastructure Corp. for 152 million euros, 20 times net income, according to an Oct. 5 statement.

Suez Environnement, 34 percent-held by GDF Suez SA, says 2011 will be a year of growth and in August kept its estimate for higher earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for 2011 through 2013. CEO Jean-Louis Chaussade plans to cut its debt ratio this year after buying Sociedad General de Aguas de Barcelona SA, a Spanish water supplier.

Marie-Claire Camus, a spokeswoman for Veolia, declined to comment on how the company’s restructuring is progressing.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tara Patel in Paris at tpatel2

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Will Kennedy atwkennedy3.

Making news as far as Korea, and shopping for batteries

2011-10-06T01:03:00.002Z

Concentrix CPV Module. Schneider / Soitec

Personal Notes : I have had the occasion to touch upon the cooperation between Morocco and Korea in a post untitled What to expect of the Koreans. It is a very welcome development that this cooperation is now reaching out to the renewable energy field. Were talking batteries, we made the choice of CSP because it uses heat storage, heat storage is cheaper then electricity storage.

A move towards acquiring electrical storage capability i.e batteries, signals the will of Masen to move beyond CSP and explore other technologies, units that can be plugged directly to the grid. One such technology is American. SES Stirling SunCatcher units deliver the most efficient solution on the market right now. I covered it in length in this blog for several reasons, firstly because it can be rolled out in large numbers and in a very reasonable time, secondly each unit installed can be immediately plugged to the grid and starts delivering from day one, and lastly because it doesn't require water cooling, so we implement it in territories remote the sea, deep into the desert. But why is SES Stirling absent from the shortlist for the Ouarzazate solar project, when they claim to have the best technology ?

SES Stirling SunCatcher Units

I think I have the answer to that, it is also I believe the most expensive. I know we like to live in a lean budget but its not an obstacle. Morocco should pursue such leading technologies, and incentives could be put on the table such as a participation in the project. Or SES Stirling passed upon the opportunity, in that case we will see how long it can afford to do so in the future if they want to truly go global.

At any rate, it is quite significant to see that the Moroccan Solar Initiative makes headlines as far as Korea. And looking forward to find out why Bakkoury wants batteries for, certainly not for CSP, maybe for this ? Yes, Concentrix CPV is a German variant of CPV, a technology in direct competition with that of SES Stirling and that has the same attributes as described above. The good news is that there's still time for SES Stirling to compete on the Moroccan market, as Morocco seeks to diversify its solar technologies array as well as expertise.Its the next phase of evolution for the Moroccan Solar Initiative.

2011-09-18 18:33

Chartering through the renewable energy sector has become a necessity for many countries.

For Morocco, it is a matter of survival and one that might be beneficial to the country’s development.

Like Korea, Morocco imports most of its energy and when the price of crude oil breaks records, the economy of Morocco suffers a tremendous blow.

“This is a great challenge for us,” said Mustapha Bakkoury, president of the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy.

“Our objective is to double our necessary capacity,” he said. “This is for our future economic development and it has to be based on respecting environmental standards as well.”

President of the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy Mustapha Bakkoury. (Yoav Cerralbo/The Korea Herald)

Morocco started developing its renewable energy sector in the 1960s with hydroelectric dams, then in the 1990s, Morocco moved ahead with the development of wind energy.

Now, Morocco is suffering from the same problems many countries suffer, a high energy demand during peak hours and high oil prices.

But the North African country does not believe in just waiting to see how technology will advance in the renewable energy sector, it is taking advantage of friends in other countries like Korea to develop new technologies that will help fuel the energy consumption of tomorrow.

“The idea is to be a player in this sector, a lot of countries are investing in research and development in this sector,” he said.

Spain and Germany have made leaps and bounds developing new technologies used to manufacture renewable energy. The United States is also playing its card while new movers such as Korea, India, South Africa and Australia are also looking to the future.

“Morocco is one of these pioneers in this field,” Bakkoury said.

Concerning Korea, Bakkoury explained that both countries are looking to find the best way to move ahead.

“There is a lot of research going on now for large scale battery storage. We could develop that together but storage will be a real issue for the future for all the countries who want to develop this sector,” he noted.

Morocco is looking to increase its production of solar energy to 2,000 megawatts by 2020, a giant leap considering that the most being produced at the moment is 900 megawatts in Spain and the United States.

Bakkoury explained that this goal could be achieved by utilizing the Sahara Desert.

“There will be solar panels peppered throughout the Sahara,” he said.

In the world of diplomacy, 2020 is a magic year for many countries especially those in the European Union who are planning to cut greenhouse gases by 20 percent.

“Europe has a large potential of wind but the energy generated from these plants is not enough to meet their 20 percent reduction,” he said. “So our intention is to develop projects where we can export that energy to Europe.”

By Yoav Cerralbo (yoav@heraldm.com)

DESERTEC to Present First Plant Design in Morocco by 2012

2011-10-05T23:04:00.002Z

Personal Notes : The first phase is a 150 Mw pilot plant, they plan to increase that to 500 Mw in a second phase, the first significant power production plant within the framework of DESERTEC.

The Sahara solar initiative backed by German turbine maker Siemens AG (SIE) and Deutsche Bank AG (DBK) will sketch out plans in 2012 for its first power plant, a 600 million-euro ($800 million) station in Morocco, its project manager said.

Desertec, the venture aiming to generate power across the North African desert for Mediterranean-area consumers, needs a few more months of planning for its initial 150-megawatt pilot plant, Paul van Son, chief executive officer of Dii GmbH, the project management company, said in an interview in Munich.

Dii’s talks with European and North African governments to back the initiative are advancing “step by step,” even as upheavals during the Arab Spring ousted leaders in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya this year, van Son said.
“I’m very confident that we will see concrete steps in 2012.”

The project founded in 2009 envisions an Egypt-to-Morocco network of solar-thermal plants, in which mirrors concentrate sunlight to heat liquids for powering turbines, as well as photovoltaic panels and wind farms. Electricity would be sold to the region and the excess exported to Europe, providing as much as 15 percent of the continent’s demand by 2050.

Overall investments may total as much as 400 billion euros, Dii has said. So far, no facilities have been built, which has Logan Goldie-Scot, an analyst with Bloomberg New Energy Finance, concerned that the project may not be realized.

North African countries are moving ahead with their own projects more quickly than Desertec, Goldie-Scot said. Morocco targets 4.5 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2020, with bidding for the construction of a 125-megawatt solar-thermal plant in Ouarzazate “in the final stages,” Goldie-Scot said by phone.

‘Nice Ambition’

“Until Desertec actually puts a project on the ground and provides details on financing and the different stakeholders, it’s nothing more than nice ambition and a series of public announcements,” he said.
Dii shareholders including Deutsche Bank, Italy’s UniCredit SpA (UCG) and Abengoa SA (ABG) of Spain, are working to carry out the project while access to financing is becoming increasingly difficult amid the European debt crisis.

About 1.9 billion euros in investment are needed to develop the first 500-megawatt phase of Desertec, Dii says. Shareholders, including insurer Munich Re, may help provide financing or equity to build the first plant, van Son said.

The pilot plant should supply Morocco and Spain by 2014 if photovoltaic panels are used, and about two years later if it relies on solar-thermal technology, he said.

Solar-Thermal Timing

Dii chose Morocco to host the first plant as the country is stable, has a government that backs renewable-energy expansion and is linked to Europe via two undersea cables stretching about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) across the Strait of Gibraltar, van Son said. The cables have free capacity of 400 megawatts to 1,000 megawatts, he said.

“Morocco is especially cash-strapped, and that’s why they’re eager to attract foreign investments and more willing to meet Desertec’s terms than some of the other North African countries,” said Samuel Ciszuk, an energy analyst for the region at Colorado-based IHS Global Insight Ltd. He spoke by telephone from London.

Aside from commercial and shareholder financing, the Munich-based initiative is in negotiations with governments in North Africa and Europe to secure state-backed grants and loan guarantees, van Son said. Dii then hopes for governments to buy the electricity via a power-purchase agreement, he said.
The company is preparing a study that simulates power network conditions in Morocco to find out more about the ideal technology for the first plants, van Son said. The study will run until the end of the year and its results may help convince potential investors, he said.

Wider Goal

Dii aims to expand installations in North Africa and the Middle East with a wider goal to transfer clean
technology, create jobs and meet the region’s entire electricity demand from renewable sources by 2050, van Son said.

The initiative is working on a feasibility study for possible projects in Tunisia and has talked to officials in Algeria, Egypt and Libya, countries that have seen upheavals during the Arab Spring uprisings.

“We’re seeing the start of a period of change in North Africa, and some countries may look very different in a few years,” Ciszuk said. “If Desertec can get things under way in Morocco, why shouldn’t there be more opportunities in Tunisia and Egypt in the mid-term?”

To contact the reporter on this story: Stefan Nicola in Berlin at snicola2@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Reed Landberg at landberg@bloomberg.net

Sourced : Bloomberg

MENA region targets three-fold increase in renewable energy capacity by 2020, says MEED

2011-10-05T12:28:00.000Z

Despite having considerable solar and wind potential, renewable energy makes a minimal contribution to power generation across most of the MENA region, and in particular in the GCC where traditionally low cost oil and gas production has stifled its development.

According to the latest report by MEED Insight, Mena Renewable Energy 2012, states right across the region are now planning a substantial hike in renewable energy capacity over the coming decade to meet high power demand growth, limit the use of oil and gas feedstock in power generation, and take advantage of a forecast drop in solar and wind generated electricity.

Ten of the 14 Arab states covered in this report have set 2020 renewable energy targets, ranging from 5 per cent of the total energy mix to 42 per cent. Even those that have not, such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq, are talking of implementing major solar power programmes. The targets imply that renewable energy capacity will have to rise three-fold to at least 27,000MW if they are to be met.

Sourced : MEED Insight http://www.meed.com/research/

Tel Aviv University Invents 40-Times Better Electricity Transmission

2011-10-04T12:07:00.003Z

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have just developed the next generation of superconductors, that have the potential to revolutionize energy transfer, carrying about 40 times more electricity than today’s copper wire, in a move than changes the financials of electricity costs completely.

According to Eureka Alert, Dr. Boaz Almog and Mishael Azoulay working under Professor Guy Deutscher at the Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Physics and Astronomy at Tel Aviv University have developed a new kind of superconducting wire for use in high-powered cables, made not using copper, but using fibers made of single crystals of sapphire.

These single-crystal sapphire fibers are only slightly thicker than a human hair. It takes far less coolant to keep them from overheating, a problem with today’s copper wires affecting outdated grids in Israel and other MENA nations. Even with the benefit of liquid nitrogen for cooling, researchers need to find the ideal material to make superconductors. This is that find.

High power superconductor cables represent the future of renewable energy because they take up much less space and conduct energy more efficiently. But not forty times more efficiently, till now.

Reducing the energy loss over long distances is important because greater distances must typically be covered in bringing the best wind energy from the distant windy plains, and solar power from the distant sultry deserts that seem to produce it best far from where humans find it comfortable to live.

Desertec is one project sure to be the beneficiary of this advance, once commercialized. The World Bank has put in massive funds to move Desertec solar power from the deserts of Africa all the way to Europe. Even before this innovation, there are real financial benefits to a controversial project some describe as Neo-Colonialism. Now, this changes the Desertec equation, and more.

This fall, the superconductor innovation will be presented at the European Conference on Applied Superconductivity and the Association of Science Technology Centers Conference.

Curbing climate change depends on developments like this because efficient long distance transmission is what’s needed to add more renewable energy, so a 40-fold improvement in energy transfer bodes very well for the future.

Sourced : http://www.greenprophet.com/2011/09/tel-aviv-university-invents-40-times-better-electricity-transmission/

MIT Lab Creates the World's First Feasible 'Artificial Leaf'

2011-10-03T23:55:00.000Z

Personal Notes : This is too good to pass upon, it is precisely the kind of disruptive technologies that have the potential to change the nature of the energy game. Hydrogen production has so far been hampered by the fact that it is quite energy intensive, but things are changing fast. “A practical artificial leaf has been one of the Holy Grails of science for decades,” says lead researcher Daniel Nocera, who’s presenting this research at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society this week.

By Clay Dillow. Posted 03.27.2011

Today at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society researchers from MIT’s Nocera Lab, led by Dr. Daniel Nocera, claimed that they’ve created an artificial leaf made from stable and -- more importantly -- inexpensive materials. The artificial leaf looks nothing like the natural leaf that it mimics, but its inputs and outputs are the same. Made of silicon, electronics, and various catalysts that spur chemical reactions within the device, the artificial leaf uses sunlight to break water into hydrogen and oxygen which can then be used to create electricity in a separate fuel cell. Placed in a gallon of water and left in the sun, these artificial leaves could provide a home in the developing world with basic electricity for a day, Nocera said.

The Nocera Lab’s artificial leaf, it should be noted, isn’t the first working attempt at recreating photosynthesis in artificial materials. But previous attempts have led to artificial leaves full of unstable materials that are expensive and lead to short life spans. Nocera and his team identified a set of inexpensive, common catalysts including nickel and cobalt to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen by facilitating oxygen-oxygen bonding, with far less expense. Oxygen and hydrogen molecules are then sent to a fuel cell that can produce electricity. And in the lab their playing-card-sized leaves have worked continuously for 45 straight hours without a drop in output.

Nocera and company will next try to boost both efficiency and lifespan of their photosynthetic material. It’s still a workbench technology at this point, but the leap forward presented here is significant. Scaled and mass produced, something like the Nocera Lab’s leaf could be the key component to shifting toward a hydrogen-based economy. In the nearer term, such technology could at the very least power parts of the globe that are currently off the grid with clean, plentiful, and easy-to-come-by energy.

Sourced : http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-03/mit-lab-creates-worlds-first-practical-artificial-leaf

If its not on Google, it doesn't exist

2011-10-03T23:27:00.003Z

Here's a list of countries that have adopted feed in tariffs. Morocco is absent from this list, and shouldn't be if we are to truly dispose of decentralized solar energy capacity. Like I said in a previous post, it also hampers entry to the market by willing and able investors. Algeria offers quite good returns on renewable energy, one might say it is able to do so because of the enormous amounts the SONATRACH is making, but still its a very laudable initiative from the Algerians.

Morocco has to follow suit, if not then the Algerians will distance us over time, and we will have overlooked the tremendous potential of seeing local energy concerns, others then ONE and VEOLIA emerge locally. Success locally is key if we are to see private energy concerns playing a meaningful role internationally in the future with Morocco as their base of operations.

India pops up as a surprise in the feed in list, and at the same time an avenue for thought. They too have no fossil fuels they could use to subsidize feed in tariffs, so how do they do it ? We have to study how it is done in India, a developing nation such as ours with similar social concerns and budget strains, if they are able to do it, then so should we. To be followed.

Links are clickable and will lead you to Wikipedia.

Genesis Morocco 2006-2011, A Retrospective

2011-10-02T10:13:00.012Z

2006. Back then, it was all very remote, renewable energy seemed to be a far fetched luxury reserved for a few developed nations, since at best it could be considered a sideshow due to the nature of its unstable baseload. Still even at the time Morocco was actively pursuing the development of its wind capacity.

What I knew back then for a fact, is that Morocco with its situation, insolation metrics, availability of land, proximity and linkage to a market such as the EU, was ideal for us to engage in a massive solar energy scheme. However the incentive to do so was like I said, remote. I pursued my train of thoughts about what would be doable with generous amounts of renewable energy when conditions would be right the keywords being cost competitive. Sure selling it abroad was an option, but more essentially we could use it to address another pressing concern, that of water scarcity. Solving the water issue allows us to secure food autonomy, another important question for Morocco who imports 300 000 tons of wheat annually.

That is how the whole idea of project Genesis came into shape, using cheap renewable energy to power desalination stations located on the coastline. The main cost of desalination is energy, it is quite energy intensive, offsetting it thanks to renewables made sense. I got deeply involved in studying the general framework down to the details of technologies of interest. I did this for a while; a blogger can be sometimes a voice in the wilderness. However I noticed that the blog was regularly visited by people from worldwide interested in the various topics covered, so I kept doing it.

2007. Prices of oil skyrocketed, it was the trigger that sent everyone, including some middle east oil producing countries into scrambling together renewable energy strategies. Lots of agitation around DESERTEC, which is a regional initiative with huge potential, but at the time the regional framework of the Maghreb Arab Union was stalled, frankly it never really took off, so my opinion was that Morocco had to go it alone with its green agenda and not wait any longer as the aftermath of the oil price spike was difficult for us to stomach.

2009. The National Solar initiative. Very excited about that, the materialization of the solar component of project Genesis. True we have yet to see any moves towards developing water desalination capacity, but building up renewable energy capacity is the building block to start with to make desalination affordable in amounts that allow for reclaiming arid land for an accrued agrarian production, which is after all the backbone of our economy. Also the Copenhagen conference, a complete flop.

Our motivations are similar to those of other developing countries engaging in renewable programs, our energy imports are paid for in hard earned foreign currency and constitute the second expenditure post after servicing debt. You want to cut what you can of that, in order to reallocate the savings. Plus nothing guarantees us against yet another spike in oil prices which would again take its toll on our budget.

2011. The Arab spring and its impact on renewables, with the collapse of regimes that impeded progress for UMA as a strategic option for the region, we can look forward to a renewed cooperation with the Tunisia and Libya. UMA as a strategic option for Morocco is actually inscribed in our new constitution. An initiative along the lines of DESERTEC might be just what UMA needs right now, a federating project for the countries of the region on a grand scale. However I’m content with the fact that we aren’t waiting for it to happen by miracle or solely relying on foreign cap and good will.

What I can say so far, is that renewables wise, the numbers have the potential to improve Morocco's living standards considerably. Take for example EDF, the French energy giant, it produces 128 GW yearly (2008 figure) mainly nuclear power, reaping $93 Bn yearly . We could do the same here, in a sustainable manner.

The revenues could double our GDP. We didn’t have an industrialization revolution, but we can have an energy revolution, or rather reconversion, there is nothing revolutionary in CSP, our solar technology of choice so far, its actually pretty low tech. Its the possibility of translating from a net energy importer into a net energy exporter and doing so without disposing of fossil fuels that is revolutionary, its never been done before.

Will it materialize? Morocco has a track record of implementing large scale programs, such as the PAGER for rural access to water or the PERG for rural electrification, and doing so efficiently. The question that remains is one of scale. Morocco has pumped $9 Bn in its program. Given the weight of our debt and other priorities such as the INDH, the figure tells a lot about our degree of dedication in pursuing a renewable energy strategy.

As for our stated objective of reaching a 42% renewables target in our energy mix, very few countries worldwide can pretend to such ambitions. And if we succeed, as I believe we will, then what is stopping us having reached 42% in 2020 to transition toward 100% or more. This and Morocco’s solid record on the environment, puts Morocco at the forefront of the fight against global warming and directly addresses the challenge of sustainable development. It also signifies for Morocco the opportunity of becoming one of the very few countries on a path to become carbon neutral, that is economies that do not contribute to worsen the climate change problem.

Of course we could be burning coal for decades and not bother, its cheap and available, but we chose to do things differently and that comes at a cost. Since the problem is global, we need cohesive financial instruments to boost our energy transition.

Morocco has an important debt, held mostly by developed countries. The very same countries that couldn't agree on a financial mechanism to help developing countries alleviate climate change. Debt is just such an instrument in my opinion, debt conversion to be precise. There is currently $22.69 billion (31 December 2010 est.) of Moroccan debt held by foreign governments and financial institutions, it is hard to justify such myopia since these could be converted into investments, precisely in the renewable energy field.

If it can be done here, it can be replicated elsewhere and thus provide developed countries with an instrument to contribute to developing and poor countries efforts to address climate change without emptying their pockets, a proposition that failed to materialize in Copenhagen. The closest such initiative has been a proposition by Mexican president Calderon for a global green fund. Morocco should be actively engaging these debt operators to propose attractive debt conversion scheme that allow for us to pay them back, sooner then later, and at the same time dispose of sufficient leeway to build up our energy infrastructure.

There is also some shortsightedness at the local level. The state is pretty much engaged in macro programs, which is good, but it hasn't acted towards the deregulation of the energy market to allow for private cap national and foreign, to engage into such investments, and more essentially it has yet to come up with incentives that make installment of solar panels at home owner level a desirable option or integrate them in the delivery of its social housing structures.

Renewable energy buy back from home owners is perhaps a bit far fetched for now but has to be pursued in order for us to dispose a a decentralized distributed energy production capacity. Studies conducted have shown that the little numbers add up to make up for quite an impressive number of gigawatts as is the case in Germany.

As for the future of this blog, well its an ongoing project, the various topics, energy, water, technology and sustainable development are enough to keep any blogger happy and busy for years to come. The next big deadline for Morocco is 2020, but a lot of things should happen in the interval. National energy market deregulation, accrued regional integration or a technological disruption such as progress in hydrogen processing and storage, the missing link in the renewable energy value chain, are all likely to happen in this coming decade.

DESERTEC, Knowledge transfer between Morocco and Germany

2011-09-30T10:53:00.002Z

Personal Notes : MASEN is conspicuously absent from this one. Anyway, DESERTEC people are busy making of their vision a reality, the added value they can bring is pretty obvious, know how and capital. Aside from greenish thoughts DESERTEC has the potential to generate billions of Euros for its investors and to do so in a sustainable way. It seems that in the uncertain economic climate, people are very willing to put their money in renewables, and to do so asap, they are after all tangible assets and not fancy financial vehicles. The price of energy might fluctuate, upwards actually since demand is going nowhere but up, so the return is almost guaranteed, a very rare commodity nowadays.

A very laudable initiative by the Germans, one of the sticking points of developing countries collaboration framework with developed countries has always been, and remains, technology and know how transfer.

Undoubtedly it has the potential to reduce investment costs domestically, rather than relying of foreign currency denominated equipment and expertise imports. To be followed.

A new university degree program is being funded with more than 3 million euros by the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, and additional support from the Kingdom of Morocco, and the Eu. RE-Generation MENA will initiate master degree programs in renewable energy, training technical personnel in a way that helps the young people of North Africa benefit from the enormous scaling up of solar power that Desertec will bring.

The project aims at consolidating through knowledge-transfer Moroccan expertise in the field of renewable energies. is a co-operation between Morocco and the German Federal State of Schleswig-Holstein. Called “WEREEMa”,

"Morocco is ideal for the implementation of the Desertec concept," said Dr. Meriem Rezgaoui, Moroccan Project Manager at the Desertec Foundation. "Morocco is one of the most stable countries in the region. In response to the Arab Spring, the King did not rely on confrontation but on far-reaching reforms. In addition, the country already has plans in place to invest several billion Euros to create jobs and reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels by greatly expanding its renewable energy production. Crucially, a transmission line linking the Moroccan and Spanish power grids, already exists. This means, in a few years, renewable energy generated in Morocco could begin to flow to Europe, as well as meeting the country’s own needs.”

The "WEREEMa" project is funded by the European Union and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety to the tune of 3 million Euro. The Moroccan Energy Agency will contribute another 600,000 Euro. The project was initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Areas of Schleswig-Holstein. Under the lead of the Schleswig-Holstein Investment Bank, the Desertec Foundation, the research network CEwind, the University of Flensburg, the Center of Excellence for Biomass Utilization in Kiel and the Moroccan Energy Agency (ADEREE) are working together to create the foundations for the implementation of Desertec in Morocco. The project will provide institutional support for the Moroccan Energy Agency and the state grid operator. Furthermore, the project will establish master degree programs in cooperation with German universities and provide training for technical personnel. At the same time, German entrepreneurs will gain the expertise and know-how to operate in the renewable energies sector in Morocco.

Sourced : http://www.energetica-india.net

MASEN.org.ma, a New Integrated Portal for Solar Energy in Morocco

2011-09-29T10:40:00.000Z

http://www.masen.org.ma

I have just seen this, I will get back to this post for more details on this new portal.

S.M. le Roi préside une séance de travail portant sur l'état d'avancement des programmes intégrés en énergies renouvelables

2011-09-25T20:32:00.002Z

Personal Notes : 2 years down the road, the King follows up on the government strategy in the renewable energy field. Growing up capacity seems to be a clear cut line, the 42% goal is an ambitious one and is all we need to concentrate on right now, still once that target is reached, what then ?

We have yet to see a clear declaration of intention that solar energy will be a level field for investors both national and international, ONE, the National Electricity Office, has yet to set beneficial rates for buying green energy from private investors thus slowing the market penetration by willing and able operators.

Furthermore, ONE has to begin setting up rules and regulations as a prelude for the deregulation of the energy sector, one where it competes with private enterprises very much like EDF competes for its customers with real and virtual operators in France.

The line of governments has always been to say that electricity is a strategic sector where it has to remain present for some serious reasons, the least of which being military readiness, that speech held true for telecoms as well, but now the time is past, we don't see the Ministry of telecommunications operating on the market in concurrence with the private sector, so why should ONE remain what it is, a state owned monopoly. What is true is in telecoms is also true in energy, more operators render the network more resilient and not less so, which translates into an augmented capacity to face trouble.

We have to prepare ONE to go private, to go green and to go global if we which for it to transform into a private energy consortium. If that is not the intent of the state then we should orient it to be come a regulating agency in charge of making sure that the market operates efficiently and transparently. In either case the retained scenario has to be pursued without further delay.

There, the ball is in Fassi Fihri's court.

Sa Majesté le Roi Mohammed VI, que Dieu l'Assiste, a présidé, jeudi au Cabinet Royal à Rabat, une séance de travail portant sur l'état d'avancement des programmes intégrés en énergies renouvelables, solaire et éolienne, que le Maroc s'est engagé à réaliser progressivement à l'horizon 2020 pour porter la part de ces énergies à 42% de la puissance globale installée.

Un communiqué du Cabinet Royal indique que ces programmes rentrent dans le cadre de la stratégie initiée par S.M. le Roi Mohammed VI, que Dieu l'assiste, qui consiste à diversifier les sources d'approvisionnement du Maroc en produits énergétiques. Cette stratégie conforte, par ailleurs, la volonté royale d'optimiser l'exploitation des ressources naturelles du Maroc, de pérenniser son développement économique et social, de préserver son environnement et d'assurer l'avenir des générations futures. Lancé par S.M. le Roi
Mohammed VI, que Dieu l'Assiste, le 2 novembre 2009 à Ouarzazate, le plan solaire marocain a donné lieu à la création d'une société qui lui a été dédiée, la Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN) et dont le programme porte sur la réalisation de cinq complexes solaires intégrés.

Le premier projet engagé concerne le complexe d'Ouarzazate dont la première phase, d'une capacité de 125 à 160 MW, est bien entamée avec un processus de sélection du développeur de ce projet, conforme aux standards internationaux. Ce processus, à son étape technique, recueille un engagement prometteur des différents acteurs pré-qualifiés et une mobilisation des financements compatible avec le calendrier prévisionnel.

Le développeur final du projet sera connu avant la fin de l'année, et les travaux du complexe commenceront à la mi-2012 avec une mise en service en 2014. La réalisation de la deuxième phase du complexe d'Ouarzazate pour porter sa puissance à 500 MW ainsi que la préparation et la qualification des quatre autres sites retenus commenceront à la même période. L'ensemble de ces centrales permettra au Maroc de disposer d'une puissance de 2.000 MW.

Le programme intégré en énergie éolienne piloté par l'Office national de l'électricité (ONE) comporte deux phases de 1.000 MW chacune. La première phase est déjà opérationnelle pour une puissance de 280 MW. Cinq autres parcs éoliens d'une capacité de 720 MW sont en cours de développement. Pour atteindre 2.000 MW, un programme complémentaire a été décidé et porte sur la réalisation de cinq parcs éoliens d'une capacité variant de 100 à 300 MW chacun. Le premier parc du programme complémentaire est situé à proximité de Taza. Sept grands groupes ont été pré-qualifiés pour le réaliser. Le développeur final du projet sera connu avant la fin de l'année en cours pour une mise en service prévue à l'horizon 2014.

Au-delà de la dimension énergétique, les programmes, solaire comme éolien, seront développés avec une attention particulière à la promotion de l'industrie locale, à la constitution d'une expertise de haut niveau et au renforcement de la recherche-développement, de sorte à permettre au Maroc de maîtriser ces filières technologiques à fort potentiel pour l'économie nationale.

Cette vision intégrée, environnementale et énergétique, bénéficie du soutien des bailleurs de fonds et de la communauté internationale qui y voit une contribution pertinente aux problématiques de changement climatique et une réelle opportunité d'intégration régionale, indique le communiqué.
Ont pris part à cette séance de travail, la conseillère de S.M. le Roi, Zoulikha Nasri, la ministre de l'Energie, des Mines, de l'Eau et de l'Environnement, Amina Benkhadra, le directeur général de l'ONE, Ali Fassi Fihri, et le directeur général de l'agence MASEN, Mustapha Bakkouri.

Sourced : MAP

How Is This Blog Coping ?

2011-09-03T11:55:00.010Z

Yearly stats from 2010 and 2011 with quarterly distribution. Traffic has doubled from 2010 and the general trend is on the rise. Quarter 4 of 2010 has been weak, seems the same might apply in 2011, or not.

In any case, what is certain is that this blog will cross the 10 000 pages viewed yearly threshold by the end of the year, as for the personal challenge, it is to double that again in 2012. Very likely considering the importance renewable energy and water issues are taking in the Morocco and the region.

About the visitor distribution in 2011, The U.S accounts for more then half the traffic, followed by Morocco and France (strange considering that the French don't like reading in English...) and the U.K . Germany is a distant 5th but I expect that to change very soon. Keep posted.

The Future of Highways ? How about Energy Generating Supraconductor Trains ?

2011-09-01T23:55:00.001Z

Maglev Supraconductor Train Japan

Personal Notes : Interesting item by Timon Singh of Inhabitat.com. He considers it as a 'pie in the sky' for now, but indeed it is a forceful concept that of generating magnetic energy along highways and railways and if it is technologically achievable then I think it will be done in the foreseeable future.

The perspective of rendering the whole highway and railway infrastructure energy efficient is one of the major challenges of the future. It has much potential for the electric car as charging stations can be implemented,

The potential is even greater for a train where we could see efficiency approaching that of kinetic devices, with as almost as much energy produced by the train as that which it actually consumes, the differential being lost to friction while we see another pie in the sky materialize, that of supraconductor trains, in that case we could either attain total efficiency in future high speed train travel, or have the very nice surprise of finding out that due to their speed and the possibility of alternating polarities along the wagons could provide us with an unexpected technological feat.

By Timon Singh, 09/01/11

Using highways to generate kinetic energy from cars is not a new idea, but designer Fang-Chun Tsai has put a twist on it. He proposes using the kinetic energy from speeding cars to change a magnetic field to generate electricity. The system could be easily installed in existing cars, and it could pave the way towards a self-sufficient energy grid.

The Magneter system would see cars fitted with a magnetic device on the underside of the chassis. As a vehicle drives, it would charge an electricity generating device that would be installed on the road. The system does not require a generator and would create electricity for whatever systems needed it. The system could also be used on rail and subway lines. The concept would also work hand in hand with a Smart Grid. The system allows energy to be stored and diverted to areas when it is needed during as peak power times.

The best part about this system is that it looks like the installation of a magnetic device would be relatively simple. A quick job in the garage is all that would be necessary to outfit most cars with one – my main concern is the work needed to install these magnetic strips on the nation’s highways. While it is a great idea, it is almost as ‘pie in the sky’ as the solar highway concept.

+ Magneter (Yanko Design)

Lead photo © scot63us

Solar Power to Supply Over 50 Per Cent of World's Energy Needs by 2060

2011-08-31T13:44:00.002Z

I am confident that we will reach our 42% renewables plan by 2020. It makes a lot of room for expansion until 2060. By that time I hope the energy question will be solved in Morocco within a framework that includes water desalination and reclaiming arid land for agriculture. Mind you the race is on about who will fill the lot for this expansion room with even countries rich in hydrocarbures vying for a place in the renewable field. What is key already is what our stake of that is going to be. At any rates it benefits the region, and also can constitute the nucleus of a regional initiative for renewables along the lines of DESERTEC.

Solar power could provide most of the world's energy needs by the middle of the century, according to the IEA. REUTERS

Article sourced : http://www.ibtimes.com

Solar power technology could provide most of the world's power by 2060 leading to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, according to comments made to Bloomberg by the International Energy Agency [IEA].

In addition, photovoltaic and solar-thermal plants could supply half of all energy requirements by this date; with wind, hydropower and biomass plants providing a significant percentage of the remaining supply, Cedric Philibert, a senior analyst for IEA told Bloomberg in a recent phone interview.

The significant prediction improves on the IEA's previous estimate of solar supplying 21 per cent of the world's power needs in 2050 and backs up additional claims that, in such a scenario, energy sector carbon dioxide emissions could also fall to just over 3 gigatons per year, compared with about 30 gigatons currently.

"Photovoltaic and concentrated solar power together can become the major source of electricity," Philibert said. "You'll have a lot more electricity than today but most of it will be produced by solar-electric technologies."

In the forecasted scenario - which will be explained in more detail at a conference in Kassel, Germany, on 1 Sept. - Philibert will also outline a global vision for the transition from fossil fuels to electric power.

Earlier this year, the IEA cautioned that fossil fuel subsidies will continue to stunt growth in the clean energy technology sector until government's take comprehensive action to replace out-dated policies and accelerate the adoption of renewables.

As Energy Matters reports, solar technologies can achieve global grid parity with fossil fuels within the next few years as long as governments continue to implement legislation to "massively increase support for solar power". The report highlighted China and Japan as two recent success stories for other countries looking to invest in clean tech.

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/205960/20110830/solar-power-panels-supply-over-50-per-cent-of-world-s-energy-needs-by-2060.htm

Hydrogen, A Definitive Game Changer ?

2011-08-31T13:13:00.001Z

Also called technological disruptions, have the potential to instantly redefine how business as usual is conducted.

Hydrogen production has always been hampered by its energy footprint, not for much more it seems. And if Hydrogen become dirt cheap then its a matter of cycling off everything thats oil based, cars, industry, the works. Accidentally that should coincide, I hope, with the time that we find ourselves in a crisis, not because there is no more oil, but because there is not enough to service everyone's needs, so how do you go about that, on what basis you decide what economy is going to grind down to a halt ?

Its best to be prepared now, Hydrogen further confirms its potential to be the fuel of tomorrow, and yes, one that is almost emission free.

Article below by http://www.ibtimes.com

Research funded by the U.S. Department of Energy has demonstrated how to "tweak" an inexpensive semiconductor material to generate hydrogen from water by using sunlight, a finding that could revolutionize the energy sector.

(Photo: REUTERS / Shannon Stapleton )
A GM Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicle is seen being fueled at the Shell Hydrogen fueling station during its opening at JFK Airport in New York July 14, 2009.

Scientists say hydrogen can be a crucial component in the transition to cleaner energy sources, but unlocking it from other compounds is the key as it is not abundantly available in a pure form on Earth.

Currently a large amount of electricity is needed to generate hydrogen by water splitting and the process entails a large amount of carbon dioxide emissions.

The new research by professors at the University of Kentucky Center for Computational Sciences and the University of Louisville Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research could change all that.

The finding shows that an alloy formed by a 2 percent substitution of antimony (Sb) in gallium nitride (GaN) has the right electrical properties to enable solar energy to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. "When the alloy is immersed in water and exposed to sunlight, the chemical bond between the hydrogen and oxygen molecules in water is broken. The hydrogen can then be collected," reported the Science Daily.

Hydrogen's potential utility in green tech initiatives is immense. It can be used to generate electricity, produce heat and run vehicles. It also has wide-ranging applications in science and industry. "When combusted, hydrogen combines with oxygen to form water vapor as its only waste product," the report points out.

"Previous research on PEC [photoelectrochemical] has focused on complex materials," said Professor Madhu Menon of the University of Kentucky. "We decided to go against the conventional wisdom and start with some easy-to-produce materials, even if they lacked the right arrangement of electrons to meet PEC criteria. Our goal was to see if a minimal 'tweaking' of the electronic arrangement in these materials would accomplish the desired results."

According to the Science Daily, the GaN-Sb alloy is the first simple, easy-to-produce material to be considered a candidate for photoelectrochemical water splitting.

According to another researcher, Professor Mahendra Sunkara of the University of Louisville Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, the GaN-Sb alloy has the potential to convert solar energy into an economical, carbon-free source for hydrogen.

"Hydrogen production now involves a large amount of CO2 emissions ... Once this alloy material is widely available, it could conceivably be used to make zero-emissions fuel for powering homes and cars and to heat homes," said Sunkara.

The researchers are working on the production of the alloy and would test its ability to convert solar energy to hydrogen, the report says.

The components of the alloy, gallium nitride and antimony, are widely used in the electronics industry. While gallium nitride is used to make bright-light LEDs, antimony has been used as metalloid element in the microelectronics industry.

Sourced : http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/206395/20110831/new-alloy-to-revolutionize-clean-energy-by-generating-hydrogen-on-the-cheap-hydrogen-water-sunlight.htm

End of an Era

2011-08-31T12:52:00.002Z

You wont see these around for much longer, they are being replaced worldwide, sometimes according to government directives like in France. Here in Morocco they have been widely adopted by households and business's alike, the administration too should have cut its energy footprint by now.

Metrics anyone ? Energy efficiency :

For a given light output, CFLs use 20 to 33 percent of the power of equivalent incandescent lamps.


Electrical power consumption Watts (W)		Minimum light output lumens (lm)
Compact fluorescent	Incandescent
9–13	40	450
13–15	60	800
18–25	75	1,100
23–30	100	1,600
30–52	150	2,600

Sourced : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_fluorescent_lamp

We can grossly estimate that, if adoption has been overwhelming and if directives phase out use of incandescent lightbulbs like its being done in France, we should be looking at an improvement in our energy efficiency which free's a lot of megawatts that can be used for other purposes, like say investing on renewables, powering water desalination stations or embarking on greening the desert. In the coming 30 years the conjunction of technological expertise, investment strategy and available capital have the potential to fully transform this country and the region for generations to come. And that replicated in many regions of the globe signals the end of an era of energy scarcity and the beginning of one of energy efficiency, through it water and food efficiencies can be reached as well.

If the Buckminster Fuller Integrated Power Grid was a reality our megawatts would have value even in China, but at present state of affair its money were not spending on energy. It should be diverted towards acquiring our own energy production means, mainly through renewables. Diverting a percentage of our electricity bill is good money to follow up with our $9Bn solar energy plan.

Article below by AFP.

Les ampoules à incandescence d'une puissance égale ou supérieure à 40 watts ne seront plus vendues dans les commerces en France après mercredi, conformément au programme de retrait par étape de ce type de lampes après celles de 100, 75 et 60 watts depuis fin juin 2009.

Le remplacement des ampoules à filament par des ampoules basse consommation devrait être complet fin 2012 dans les commerces, les dernières, celles de 25W devant être retirées de la vente le 31 décembre 2012.

Ce calendrier avait été fixé dans une convention signée le 23 octobre 2008 entre le ministère du Développement Durable et les acteurs de la grande distribution et du bricolage ainsi que l'éco-organisme Récylum, EdF et l'Agence de l'environnement et de la maîtrise de l'énergie (Ademe).

Le remplacement des ampoules à incandescence par des lampes basse consommation devrait permettre à la France d'économiser 8 térawatts-heure de consommation d'électricité, soit l'équivalent de deux fois la consommation annuelle d'électricité des habitants de Paris, selon le ministère.

Trois à quatre fois plus chère à l'achat, une lampe basse consommation consomme cependant quatre à cinq fois moins d'énergie qu'une ampoules à filaments. Et elle dure en général environ 8.000 heures contre 1.000 pour une ampoule à incandescence.

Cependant, à la différence des ampoules classiques - qui doivent être jetées dans la poubelle ordinaire - les ampoules basse consommation usagées, qui contiennent de faibles quantité de mercure, doivent être rapportées dans les magasins.