EDF Renewables and its Japanese partner Mitsui have begun construction of the 87MW first phase of the Taza wind project in Morocco, North Africa.
Phase one, consisting of 27 wind turbines, will enter service in early 2022.
The project has a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) and the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN).
The project has secured financing provided by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), MUFG Bank and the Moroccan bank Bank of Africa.
EDF Renewables and Mitsui will respectively hold 60% and 40% of the interests in the project.
ONEE, MASEN and the Hassan 2 Fund, established in 2000 to support investment in Morocco’s infrastructure and structuring projects, could hold up to 35% of the project company’s capital, said the partners.
During the construction phase, around 500 people will work on the project, and throughout its life operation, the Taza wind farm will contribute to the region’s social and economic development, EDF stated.
Taza wind farm is part of Morocco’s strategy to increase the share of renewables to 52% of electricity production by 2030.
EDF Renewables chief executive Bruno Bensasson said: “We are delighted to move forward with to the construction phase of the Taza wind farm together with Mitsui, our consortium partner.
“We would like to thank the Kingdom of Morocco, its administrative services, the local authorities and our partners, especially the ONEE and MASEN for the trust and the support they have placed in us throughout the development of the project despite the health crisis we are going through.
“This wind farm demonstrates our commitment to supporting the Kingdom of Morocco’s energy transition. The project fits with the goals in the EDF Group’s 2030 CAP strategic plan of doubling its renewable energy capacity worldwide from 28 GW to 50 GW nets, between 2015 and 2030.”