2023-04-16 18:00:37
Bank Of Africa (BOA) wants to get more involved in financing the energy transition of the Moroccan economy. It is for this purpose that its ESG team has just conducted a study on the potential of renewable energies (ENR) in the Casablanca-Settat region, in partnership with the local CRI. A study aimed at “supporting a more marked emergence of an industrial ecosystem around renewable energies, through projects for the manufacture of wind turbine blades and the assembly of photovoltaic (PV) panels, while capitalizing on the components and equipment produced locally by its metal and electronic industries. According to the two partners, the Casablanca-Settat region has enough assets to position itself on significant growth opportunities both in PV (photovoltaic) and its applications, and in wind power.
For what ? Because it is an area hosting an industrial fabric specializing in EnR (Fenelec, Amisole and Cluster EnR) and containing industrial ecosystems (automotive, aeronautics and IMMEE) conducive to the development of a green industrial sector. Thus, in PV as in wind power, several projects can be developed there. But before that, certain regulatory, tax and customs constraints, but also related to market structures, will have to be lifted.
The projects identified in the minutes…
In PV, it would thus be possible to manufacture components that are not available locally and/or whose technical feasibility is affordable. This would more particularly concern structures, trackers (motorization), MC4 and T connectors, solar cables, junction boxes, and maintenance work. In electric mobility, the region can take advantage of the great potential of the “cabling” and “battery” ecosystems developed in the wake of the automotive and aeronautical industries, and more particularly following the recent discovery of a large lithium deposit in Morocco.
While in solar pumping, the potential induced by agricultural subsidies should not be underestimated, without forgetting that of solar water heaters, in anticipation of the decompensation of gas. Do not forget to give credibility and promote these “Made in Morocco” to be stamped with certifications from the Moroccan Institute for Standardization (Imanor). To give credibility to all this production, the study recommends signing a program contract between the State and operators in the sector. That’s not all. At the regulatory level, it recommends activating the operationalization of the unlocking of medium voltage for private solar; to speed up the implementation of Law No. 82-21 on self-production, and continually perfect its provisions, so as to further free the national market from medium voltage.
It also suggests further simplifying the procedure for applying for connection of the self-production PV installation to the national grid, as well as supervising and encouraging innovation for the development of new storage solutions. At the tax and customs level, it will also be a question of strengthening the system of tax incentives and more encouraging financial aid both for individuals and industrialists to encourage and facilitate the transition to renewable energies; and provide customs measures to promote local manufacturing of solar components by revising common import duties, currently around 2.5%. The study also recommends building local know-how that is effectively exportable, in particular through the promotion of innovation and R&D and the strengthening of the capacities of national operators in terms of local references and financing to enable them to conquer new markets abroad, especially in Africa.
… And wind power
In wind power, there are also several projects which have been identified, including in particular the development of components not available locally and/or whose technical feasibility is affordable, such as electricity generators, chassis, multipliers, converter/alternators, brakes and electrical controls of the tower. It would also be possible to create expertise in estimating wind potential, sizing parks and calibrating anemometers, receiving wind turbines, as well as in maintenance management (GMAO).
Consider the possibility of producing towers and blades in the region that are not very suitable for transport, subject to the development of offshore wind power, small wind turbines and the acceptance of nearby industrial customers. But also to develop partnerships with specialized international companies in order to realize the missing subsystems of the wind value chain. It would also be possible to explore the development of offshore wind power, which is less restrictive in terms of the physical occupation of space and offers greater power capacities. And prepare to seize other opportunities related in particular to the dismantling and repowering of wind farms. The development of these projects will, however, require the removal of certain constraints. In the regulatory field, the study identified two, namely the resolution of the land equation necessary for the development of wind farms in the region; and further simplification of the procedure for requesting connection of the wind power plant to the national grid.
In the tax and customs area, the study also recommends strengthening the system of tax incentives and financial aid for both individuals and industrialists to encourage and facilitate the transition to renewable energies; and to provide for customs measures to promote the local manufacture of wind power components by revising common import duties, which currently stand at around 2.5%, in particular for generator sets and electric rotary converters. Last but not least, in order to properly structure the market, the study suggests supporting the creation of a market for small wind turbines and extending the solar pumping program to wind power; but also to strengthen the capacities of national operators in terms of training and local references to conquer new markets abroad, especially in Africa.
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