Morocco’s first floating photovoltaic power plant is set to be installed in the region of Sidi Slimane in the coming weeks. The plant will be the first of its kind in Africa, and it will be built by Energy Handle, a company that specialises in renewable and green energy, and will use photovoltaic technology. The plant is expected to produce 360 KW in its initial phase, with a total yearly production of roughly 644 MWh, with 800 panels. Solar panels can generate a big amount of electricity with no greenhouse gas emissions, hence solar energy is predicted to be a leader in the world’s continuous fight against climate change.
Photovoltaic technology has a number of advantages in this regard, as it can generate more power while using less energy. Floating solar panels can further boost energy output by utilising the water they float on to cool during the summer. Photovoltaic technology has a long history; it’s been utilised in specialist installations and systems since the 1990s, but the first mass-produced varieties didn’t appear until the 2000s. While solar energy can help battle climate change, many experts believe that with proper scaling, it can actually help meet world demand at a lower cost than traditional non-renewable energy.
Morocco is putting in strong efforts to capitalise on its vast solar potential. In January 2021, the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN) has opened a new tender for six new solar energy projects with a cumulative capacity of 400 MW. According to the MASEN, the solar photovoltaic plants will be located across the country near Sidi Bennour, Kalaa Sraghna, Taroudant, Bejaad, El Hajeb and Ain Beni Mathar. The sites were selected based on accessibility and the topographic advantages. According to the agency, many domestic and foreign developers have shown interest to develop these solar projects.
