The European Investment Bank (EIB) has launched a tender to find a consultant to assess the feasibility of offshore wind development off the coast of Morocco.
The Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN) hopes to have an offshore wind farm off the coast of Essaouira, a port and resort city on the Atlantic coast. The project could be Africa’s first offshore wind farm.
High wind speeds and shallow waters – which could enable the installation of fixed-bottom foundations – give Morocco a high potential to exploit offshore wind, the EIB suggested.
It expects to announce that it has awarded the €2 million, two-year contract to carry out feasibility studies and an environmental and social impact assessment by early October.
The EIB had previously sought technical assistance to assess the feasibility of Moroccan offshore wind, but cancelled the procurement procedure earlier this year.
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