GDF, Nareva bring online 301-MW wind farm in Morocco

Dec 16, 2014 - French utility GDF Suez (EPA:GSZ) and Moroccan energy firm Nareva Holding have launched commercial operations at their 301-MW wind park in Morocco last week, GDF said on Friday.

The wind farm, valued at EUR 450 million (USD 560m), was constructed by Tarfaya Energy Co, a 50/50 joint venture between GDF and its partner, which will also operate the facility. Building works were initiated in early 2013.

The Tarfaya wind farm in southwestern Morocco uses 131 turbines of 2.3 MW each made by Germany's Siemens (ETR:SIE). With an locad factor of 45%, the plant's output will be enough to power about 1.5 million homes and mitigate 900,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission annually, the developers calculate. The generated electricity will be sold to Moroccan state utility Office National de l’Electricite et de l’Eau Potable (ONEE) under a 20-year contract.

The capacity of the complex represents 15% of the 2,000-MW target Morocco has set for wind energy development. The African country aims to source 42% of its total energy from renewables by 2020.

GDF has stakes in four power plants in Africa, including the 94-MW West Coast 1 wind farm, it noted.

(EUR 1.0 = USD 1.244)

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