Morocco has very strong potential for renewable energy projects. Wind potential is particularly high, especially in the north and south of the country:
• Essaouira, Tangier and Tetouan have average wind speeds of 9.5 to 11 meters per second at 40 meters;
• Tarfaya, Taza and Dakhla have average wind speeds between 7.5 and 9.5 meters per second at 40 meters;
• Morocco has a total wind power potential of 7,936 terawatt-hours (TWh) per year;
• electricity consumption in Morocco in 2007 was 22.6 Twh;
• a detailed atlas of wind speed and patterns in Morocco was published in 1995 and updated in 2007;
• more than 50 wind-measurement stations were installed between 1990 and 2007.
Morocco is attempting to obtain private funding for the Tarfaya 300-megawatt (MW) wind farm project. Morocco's Office National de Electricite invited potential bidders for the Tarfaya wind farm project for a final discussion about project specifications and technical clarifications in the third week of October.
The winning bidder will build a 200-MW wind farm, which will begin operating in 2011. The developer will have the option of increasing the size of the wind farm to 300 MW at a later stage.