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Megalopolis part II, Algiers

The concept of cities growing through extensions is an interesting one, they can be planned ahead and dedicated to certain purposes.

If very likely the first 3 extensions are the port, residential and business areas, extension 4 could be industrial areas. The idea is not to mix industrial with residential even if these installations are meant for non polluting industries.

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Greater Casablanca. What is the future of a Megalopolis?

Just a few thoughts,

Energy efficient
Carbon neutral
Zero pollution indoors, and high oxygen quality
Smart skins gather energy and recycle rainfall
Production areas are eccentric to residential and business ones
Industries are non polluting
Electric vehicles
Large green areas
Efficient public transportation
Zero noise environments
Hard plastic shells
Expensive foams
Insulated
Fireproof
Planned
Modular
Construction is robotic and semi robotic
Persistent living standards
Socially harmonious

In this case you could reside in a zero pollution industrial zone with comfortable living quarters for 8 months and take 4 months off in a recreational area located closer to the shore and the business district if you are a factory worker.

Those districts are still a ride away if you feel like visiting downtown.

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

From the WorldWatch Institute, Sustainable Energy Roadmaps An Integrated Approach.

Personal Notes: Quite an interesting framework. WorldWatch Institute is a think tank present mostly in Latin America. I had the privilege to visit them in Washington D.C where they are based, a bright young team of people very well intent on pushing things forward in RE. 

Looking forward to seeing them in action in Africa.

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

In Retrospect, The Ouarzazate Solar Complex Bidding Process

Personal Notes: Although it was known by everyone, now it's official, ACWA has won the contract for the Ouarzazate concentrated solar thermal plant. This end of September announcement comes very late considering the previous schedules and makes one question the ability of MASEN to conduct such tenders in a timely fashion.

As a result all of the program is set back at least for 6 months, and MASEN is now considering issuing smaller tenders for 50 MW plants, lets hope these will be straightforward. 

Also a matter of concern is the fact that MASEN seems to have had problems securing the funding for its ventures. If it has problems doing that for one plant quid of the 4 remaining ones, equally as important in size and with similar metrics. 

Undoubtedly this process could have been handled more diligently and above all with more transparency, as it was known from word of mouth, a month in advance that ACWA would win the bid. If it was known that ACWA would win, why conduct a bidding process to start with?

MASEN needs to get its act straight, and perhaps could benefit from ONE's experience in handling the bidding for large scale projects.

Also, MASEN found out late in the process that it would take a stake itself in the project to offset some of the operational costs that the winning bidder did not want to know about. Again, a shortsighted approach, such costs would have had to be covered by someone. Why do we find out about them so late in the process only to rush to constitute a private entity to mop them up?

I'm not big on funding private ventures with tax payer money, so hopefully that money will come from other pockets then that of the government.

Investments in the field of RE in Morocco have to their credit that given the proximity of Morocco to large markets such as the EU and MENA as whole make it a very attractive destination to invest in the field, there's still that option to sell gigawatts of power once the country's needs are covered for.

Efficacity, due process and transparency are of the essence. 


Sept 24th

ACWA will build the 160 MW plant in a consortium with Spanish companies Aries, TSK, Acciona and Sener,

 All with extensive experience in construction of CSP plants in Spain. The plant will be parabolic trough type with SENER Through heat collector assemblies.

The contract is worth $1 billion and electricity will be sold at 1.62 dirhams per kWh far less than 2.05 proposed by the other two bidders, a consortium comprised by Abeinsa, Abengoa Solar, Mitsui and Aby Dhabi NEC and the consortium ENEL - ACS. There was a fourth bidder with Solar Millenium in its members, but due to the bankrupt of SM, it failed to bid.

It's expected that works will start before end of the year and it will take two years to complete the plant.
This is the first phase of a 500 MW project in Ouarzazate site. Moroccan government has plans to have 2 GW of solar energy installed by 2020, about 38% of country's currently installed power.

Next tenders will be for 50 MW tower type plants.

The Ouarzazate Solar Power Station Project I is part of the Moroccan Solar Plan designed within the broader framework of the MENA Region’s Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Investment Plan. This plan was designed under the aegis of the ADB and the World Bank, approved on 10/11/2009.

The project is co-financed by the Clean Technology Fund, the World Bank, the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the German Cooperation (KfW) and, potentially, other commercial banks and private partners.

The project will cover an area of 2,500 ha on the Tamzaghten Izerki site belonging to the Ait Oukrour Toundout ethnic community in Ghessat rural council area. The site is about 10 km from Ouarzazate town on the national road to Errachedia town. The site is currently a pastoral area with little fodder supply.

In 2009, Morocco`s Government announced a new energy strategy, based on developing national renewable energy potential  by increasing its share within the energy mix from 33% in 2009 to 42% in 2020. The plan includes 2000 MW of solar energy capacity by 2020.

To achieve the feasibility of the project, the Government will cover the difference between the price the National Electricity Authority will pay to MASEN and the price MASEN will pay to the private developer
under a power purchase agreement.

Editor's notes: $1 = 8.59 dirhams



€345 million investment secured for Morocco’s Ouarzazate solar project

21. NOVEMBER 2012 | BY:  BECKY BEETZ

The first 125 to 160 MW phase of the 500 MW Ouarzazate solar project has secured €345 million in funding from Europe. It is expected to be operational by 2015. Meanwhile, sources report that a US$1 billion PPA has been secured for the project.

Overall, the European Investment Bank has pledged €100 million to the first phase of the concentrated solar power (CSP) project, while the European Union has made €30 million available. Meanwhile, €100 million will come from the Development Agency for France (AFD), and €15 million from Germany’s KfW Entwicklungsbank (KfW) and Federal Environment Ministry (BMU).

The 500 MW parabolic-trough CSP project is expected to be the first implemented under Morocco’s Solar Plan (MSP), which aims to install a total solar capacity of 2 GW by 2020 in the country.

In September, the Moroccan Solar Energy Agency, MASEN, announced that a consortium led by the International Company for Water and Power (ACWA) and comprising the Saudi Arabian water and power company ACWA, Aries Ingeniería y Sistemas and TSK Electrónica y Electricidad had been chosen as the preferred bidder for the billion dollar project. At the time, it was said that the companies were planning to start work by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, last November, the World Bank said a U.S.$200 million loan would be provided by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and another $97 million loan would come from the Clean Technology Fund to aid in the project's development.

"As the lead European financial institution on this project, the EIB is proud to contribute both its financing and its technical expertise acquired across Europe for all sources of renewable energy. The first phase of Ouarzazate is a milestone for the success of the Mediterranean Solar Plan in the region. It provides a strong and green signal for the future in terms of technology, economic and energy development, and job opportunities," stated EIB VP, Philippe de Fontaine Vive.

In related news, various news sources, including AMEinfo.com are reporting that MASEN has signed a $1 billion PPA with the ACWA consortium. MASEN could not be immediately contacted for comment, however.

Further solar development

Under the MSP, tenders are also expected to be launched for 50 MW worth of CSP towers, also in Ouarzazate. Quoting Obaid Amrane, board member at MASEN, media outlet CSP Today reported earlier in the year that, "We are planning to launch the bidding process by the end of 2012 or early 2013."

Public procurement processes for build-own-operate-transfer power plants will further be conducted under an independent power producer (IPP) model with 25 year PPAs throughout various locations within Morocco.

And photovoltaics is also expected to play a bigger role in the third phase of the MSP, Nabih Cherradi, technical advisor and chief representative europe for the Shanghai New Energy Industry Association and founder of empowersun told pv magazine in September. Meanwhile, he expects that a minimum of 50 MW of photovoltaic capacity will be added in the first 500 MW phase.


Read more: http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/345-million-investment-secured-for-moroccos-ouarzazate-solar-project_100009293/#ixzz2DKEvDRRM



Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Game Changer, New Silicon Batteries Outperform Li-ion

Personal Notes :

Congratulations on this major new advance in improving batteries. Indeed batteries in all sizes and shapes are a critical element in any energy strategy as regards their power storage capacity. In the end all these storage devices constitute a sizable decentralized storage system that shows all its usefulness when devices can feed into the grid at peak time and charge when grid usage is low.

On a related note, I heard from a friend that Israelis have developed nuclear based batteries, in small shapes, as small as a car battery? I don't know but I will investigate. If that prove to be the case such batteries are an ideal complement to off grid RE powered installations. 

Both new developments sound exciting. We’ll keep you updated.


NOVEMBER 2, 2012 BY NICHOLAS BROWN

Rice University researchers have developed yet another li-ion (lithium-ion) silicon battery anode, but this time it is a crushed, porous silicon anode.

The researchers “have refined silicon-based lithium-ion technology by literally crushing their previous work to make a high-capacity, long-lived and low-cost anode material with serious commercial potential for rechargeable lithium batteries,” a Rice University press release notes.

The research was led by Sibani Lisa Biswal and Madhuri Thakur.

Rice University researchers Madhuri Thakur, left, and Sibani Lisa Biswal are testing anodes made of treated porous silicon that can be spread on a current collector and holds up to 10 times the amount of lithium than graphite anodes in current lithium-ion batteries. The robust anodes have achieved more than 600 charge-discharge cycles.

The new li-ion silicon battery anode lasts much longer than previous designs. It has sustained operation through 600 charge–discharge cycles at 1,000 milliamp hours per gram (this means it was charged 600 times). “This is a significant improvement over the 350 mAh/g capacity of current graphite anodes,” the press release notes, putting it “squarely in the realm of next-generation battery technology competing to lower the cost and extend the range of electric vehicles.”

Li-ion and Lead-acid Battery Life

Notably, while typical lithium-ion batteries can be cycled 1,200 times, people don’t actually get that many cycles out of them. Due to normal usage of most devices, people do not usually get to cycle them that many times, only a few hundred times. This is due to the fact that lithium-ion batteries self-degrade and die before people can get the 1,200 cycles out of them. Therefore, 600 cycles is not as bad as it sounds. (For comparison, lead-acid batteries can usually be cycled 500-800 times.)

Additionally, another one of the researchers’ anodes “continues to cycle at a C/5 rate (five-hour charge and five-hour discharge) and is expected to remain at 1,000 mAh/g for more than 700 cycles.”
Another important point to note is that the application of batteries greatly affects their lifespan. Very heavy usage of lithium-ion batteries can shorten their lifespan to even less than the time it takes them to self-degrade.

This is why some lead-acid batteries can last 5 years (when used for battery backup applications such as UPSes), while some lithium-ion batteries last only 3 years, despite the fact that lithium-ion batteries have a longer cycle life.

Silicon Anode–based Batteries

Of the last two silicon anode-based batteries I’ve seen: the earliest one used a solid, rigid silicon anode which cracked promptly; and the other a silicon nanowire anode which lasted longer but was still unreliable.
One reason scientists keep pursuing (and successfully improving) silicon-based li-ion batteries is because they have tremendous potential. They can achieve an energy density of 1,000 Wh per kg, as opposed to the 95-180 Wh per kg that typical batteries achieve. Lithium polymer batteries are on the high (and expensive) end of the battery market and they are the ones that achieve 180 Wh/kg.

This means that these batteries are extremely lightweight, 10 times lighter than mainstream lithium-ion batteries. Specifically, these Rice batteries don’t store that much, but still much more than average (1,000 mAh per gram as opposed to 350 mAh per gram).

This enables electric vehicles to travel at least several hundred miles (close to 1,000 miles) per charge, putting the even Tesla Roadster and Model S range and performance to shame.

Why the Delay in Using Silicon Anode–based Batteries

So, if silicon-anode batteries are so great, why the delay in using them? Of course, “there’s a problem,” the Rice release notes. “Silicon more than triples its volume when completely lithiated. When repeated, this swelling and shrinking causes silicon to quickly break down.”
So, here’s more from Rice University on how researchers have tried to address this so far, and how Thakur and Biswal are doing things differently:

Many researchers have been working on strategies to make silicon more suitable for battery use. Scientists at Rice and elsewhere have created nanostructured silicon with a high surface-to-volume ratio, which allows the silicon to accommodate a larger volume expansion. Biswal, lead author Thakur and co-author Michael Wong, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and of chemistry, tried the opposite approach; they etched pores into silicon wafers to give the material room to expand. By earlier this year, they had advanced to making sponge-like silicon films that showed even more promise.

But even those films presented a problem for manufacturers, Thakur said. “They’re not easy to handle and would be difficult to scale up.” But by crushing the sponges into porous grains, the material gains far more surface area to soak up lithium ions.

Biswal held up two vials, one holding 50 milligrams of crushed silicon, the other 50 milligrams of porous silicon powder. The difference between them was obvious. “The surface area of our material is 46 square meters per gram,” she said. “Crushed silicon is 0.71 square meters per gram. So our particles have more than 50 times the surface area, which gives us a larger surface area for lithiation, with plenty of void space to accommodate expansion.” The porous silicon powder is mixed with a binder, pyrolyzed polyacrylonitrile (PAN), which offers conductive and structural support.

“As a powder, they can be used in large-scale roll-to-roll processing by industry,” Thakur said. “The material is very simple to synthesize, cost-effective and gives high energy capacity over a large number of cycles.”

“This work shows just how important and useful it is to be able to control the internal pores and the external size of the silicon particles,” Wong said.
…
“The next step will be to test this porous silicon powder as an anode in a full battery,” Biswal said. “Our preliminary results with cobalt oxide as the cathode appear very promising, and there are new cathode materials that we’d like to investigate.”

Source: Rice University

Clean Technica (http://s.tt/1rN7S)


Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Saudi Arabia Unveils Plan to be Powered Entirely by Renewable Energy

Saudi Arabia recently revealed that it is planning to be powered 100% by renewable and low-carbon forms of energy.


One of the state’s main spokesmen, Prince Turki Al Faisal Al Saud, said that he was hoping that Saudi Arabia would be powered completely by low-carbon energy within his lifetime. He made the groundbreaking statement during the Global Economic Symposium in Brazil, the whole process might take a few decades.

The Saudi prince expressed that the country was most definitely moving forward with investment renewables, nuclear power, and other undefined alternatives to fossil fuels. Noting that their vast oil reserves would still be in demand for their use as plastics and polymers.

“Oil is more precious for us underground than as a fuel source,” he said. “If we can get to the point where we can replace fossil fuels and use oil to produce other products that are useful, that would be very good for the world. I wish that may be in my lifetime, but I don’t think it will be.”

Joss Garman, political director of Greenpeace, said: “It speaks volumes that a Saudi prince can see the benefits of switching to clean energy sources when [UK chancellor] George Osborne seemingly cannot, but Saudi Arabia will only truly be a green economy when it leaves its fossil fuels in the ground.”

Currently, Saudi Arabia’s energy is provided nearly completely by burning fossil fuels, nearly two-thirds from oil and the rest from natural gas. It produces around 12 million barrels of oil every day. That’s more than 12% of the entire world’s production, and the country has at least 1/5 of the world’s proven oil reserves, according to the US government’s Energy Information Administration. And because of how artificially-low oil prices are kept within the kingdom, the per capita energy use there is quite high.

As noted by Prince Turki, though, the kingdom has an equally vast potential for solar power. “The cost of solar energy is now 15% of what it was 20 years ago,” he noted.

Source: The Guardian



Clean Technica (http://s.tt/1qApz)   Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Wind Power North Africa, Nov 27-28th 2012 Casablanca, Morocco

The wind energy potential of the region is quite significant. We expect an annual growth of more than 600MW per year until 2012 and an even higher growth afterwards

Demonstrating their commitment to support the scaling up of wind power in North Africa and spurring investment in the region’s growing wind power market, Julia Goddard, Event Director, Green Power

Conferences recently interviewed Khalid Benhamou, Managing Director, Sahara Wind, Carlos Martin Rivals, Development Director for Northern Africa, EDP Renewables and Peter Gish, Managing Director, North Africa, UPC Renewables gaining valuable insight into the most recent wind power developments in the region.

GPC:  At what pace will wind power grow in the region?

Khalid Benhamou, Sahara Wind:  The wind energy potential of the region is quite significant. The growth of wind energy is essentially limited by grid/systems absorption capabilities. Frameworks aimed at developing an industrial integration of the components of a wind power industry will therefore condition the pace and deployment of wind power projects in the region. These represent a prerequisite for regional market integration as well as the deployment of large projects utilizing HVDC grid technologies. Due to their HVDC technologies, electric grid limitations to wind energy developments for these projects are easily overcome.

Carlos Martin Rivals, EDP Renewables:  We expect an annual growth of more than 600MW per year until 2012 and an even higher growth afterwards we are participating in the ongoing 850MW Morocco tender and actively looking for other opportunities in the region.

Peter Gish, UPC Renewables:  Much depends on the pace of deregulation, macro-economic factors and the grid.

 GPC:  What do you think is the future of government support for wind power in the region?  

Khalid Benhamou, Sahara Wind:  With the lack of carbon taxation on fossil fuels (coal and natural gas mainly) as in the current context, government support for wind power will be driven by mostly by social considerations. These will be conditioned by frameworks and policies aimed at generating local employment in the industrial integration of a wind power manufacturing industry.

Carlos Martin Rivals, EDP Renewables:  We are observing a solid and increasing support for renewables as they become cost competitive and countries look for cleaner and indigenous sources of electricity.

Peter Gish, UPC Renewables:  There are multiple challenges, not the least of which are economic factors and the lack of support from Europe (CDM mechanism providing very little to base line economics etc.)

GPC:   What do you think has been the most interesting recent developments in the market?  

Khalid Benhamou, Sahara Wind:  The sharp drop in wind turbine prices due to the increase of wind manufacturing capacities with the advent of Chinese manufacturers and a collapse of the global market linked to the economic crisis. The latter, combined with political events unfolding in the region (the Arab Spring) will likely put governments under pressure. These could respond either by developing industrial policies adapted to the region’s youth employment challenges (in integrating a green manufacturing sector) or to the contrary by saturating their respective grids with imported turn-key wind projects and pursuing fossil fuels subsidies.

Carlos Martin Rivals, EDP Renewables:  Morocco stands out as a front-runner through recent wind and solar tenders and bilateral schemes with industrials. Other countries in the region also have ambitious plans.
Peter Gish, UPC Renewables:  Greater awareness of the role of renewables in the power generation mix.

GPC:  What will be the most important topic of discussion at Wind Power North Africa 2012?

Khalid Benhamou, Sahara Wind:  The presentation of projects and policy frameworks for optimal wind power deployments in North Africa.

Carlos Martin Rivals, EDP Renewables:  How to attract investments in the region and ensure they translate into local industrialization.

Peter Gish, UPC Renewables:  Geopolitical situation.

Source : http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/


Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

North Africa: Nation Seeks Green Energy Leadership - Sahara Sun, Wind to Power Europe, North Africa - UPI

Rabat — UPI Energy Resources - Morocco is driving to become the world's leading solar power state, with a 7,400-acre pilot project in the Sahara Desert it hopes will lead to vast carbon-free solar energy plants that could supply much of Europe's electricity needs. The North African nation's plan is for a $9 billion solar energy plant to produce 2,000 megawatts of power by 2020, 38 percent of its current electricity generation.

Mustapha Bakkoury, chairman of Morocco's Solar Energy Agency, says the first stage, a 500MW solar complex at the southern frontier town of Ouarzazate, should be completed by 2015. This is envisioned as the precursor of a vast grid of solar, wind and hybrid power stretching along North Africa's Mediterranean coast, supplying abundant energy for the region's power grid. It would also provide a major power source for energy-hungry Europe that is struggling to lessen its dependence on natural gas piped from Russia and Middle Eastern oil.

In September, the project took another step forward when a consortium led by the Saudi International Company for Water and Power was awarded a $1 billion contract to build a 160MW concentrated solar power plant at Ouarzazate. That's the first phase of the Ouarzazate project. Work on the plant is to start before the end of the year and should be operational by the end of 2014.

Eventually, the Ouarzazate project will have five power stations, two of them in the Western Sahara, a mineral-rich zone disputed by Morocco and Algeria. This will be the initial phase of a project launched in 2009 by the Desertec Industrial Initiative, a German-led consortium that plans is to use vast arrays of solar panels across the Sahara to harness the rays of the sun, which shines there virtually all year round.

This will produce steam to drive turbines that will generate electricity for the region through an envisioned supergrid that would supply 15-20 percent of Europe's requirements. Because North Africa's sunlight is much more intense than that in Europe, solar photovoltaic panels used by the Desertec project could generate up to three times the electricity that similar projects in northern Europe produce.

Experts at the European Commission's Institute for Energy say it requires only 0.3 percent of the sunlight falling on the Sahara and other Middle Eastern deserts to provide all of Europe's energy needs. This ambitious project has long been derided by critics as not feasible because of regional rivalries in the Maghreb, the Arab word for North Africa, and the technological hurdles that must be overcome.

But the political upheavals across the Arab world since January 2011, in which longtime dictatorships in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya have been toppled in pro-democracy uprisings, has raised expectations of a unified approach to developing a regional renewable carbon-free energy industry. The plans for solar plants in the Western Sahara could be the test of those expectations of a new era of economic cooperation by the Maghreb states.

"As Rabat watched North Africa undergo the deep political and economic evolution of last year, Morocco's renewable energy potential took on a new importance," observed energy analyst Christopher Coats.

"With new governments in place in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, long-delayed partnerships in the region seemed suddenly possible. Proposed trading blocs that had sat in limbo for decades were brought up for discussion again. In late January, Algeria even welcomed their first official visitor from Rabat since 2003 with the arrival of Morocco's foreign minister."

"By developing green energy, we're creating solutions for Europe -- not just economic but social solutions for the future," said Said Mouline, director of Morocco's Agency for the Development of Renewable Energy.

DII Chief Executive Officer Paul van Son has described Desertec as a "win-win" deal for both Europe and the Middle East. Discussions are under way with Tunisia on building a solar farm there and the new Tunis government says it's ready to invest $2.5 billion over four years in the domestic energy sector, with preference going to clean energy.

Algeria's the next "obvious" country because of its proximity to Europe, DII officials say. Eventually, Libya, Egypt, Syria and faraway Saudi Arabia would join the Desertec power grid through a network of high-voltage lines that will be built across the Middle East from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean

Source : http://allafrica.com


Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Africa’s First Wind Hydrogen System Launched

Personal Notes: Frequent readers of this blog will no doubt already be familiar with the Sahara wind project, which we featured in an earlier post in March. This latest development, the launching of Sahara Wind's first hydrogen facility is not only a big step forward for both the project and the partner university, Al-Akhwayn, but also first for Africa.

We would also like to note that this launch is not only historic but also a key indicator of larger economic trends which will be crucial to the future of the renewable energy economy in this region. The first is the application of innovative techniques in order to overcome technological and infrastructural limitations, in this case the use of hydrogen storage in order to allow for stored production rather than injection into a national grid. The second is the involvement of universities and other research centers. As we and others have mentioned before on this blog, renewable energy development in this region will not only bring more energy but more jobs. For countries in the region such as Morocco the more of those jobs that have a higher value-added means a more mature and more macro-economically beneficial process of development. Educational and research opportunities in the field are dependent on projects like this, and help train a new generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and engineers.

Posted October 2nd, 2012 by info@pureenergy...

K. Benhamou (Sahara Wind Ltd - Left) and
 K. Loudiyi (Al Akhawayin Univesity) Morocco - right)

The First African initiative to make hydrogen from water using green energy has been successfully installed in Morocco.

Unst, Shetland, United Kingdom, October 2, 2012 - (PressReleasePoint) -

The Pure Energy^® Centre, the UK pure^® fuel, renewable energy and energy storage company in collaboration with Sahara Wind Inc. and Al Akhawain University in Morocco announce the completion of Africa’s First Wind Hydrogen System. The hydrogen system has been installed to enable the storage of excess wind energy. The installed system demonstrates that the intermittency of the wind and excess production can be resolved.

Sahara Wind Inc. of Morocco, has coordinated the installation of a wind farm consisting of three wind turbines at Al Akhawain University, one of Morocco’s top Universities. The installation of the wind turbines meant that green energy could be used around the University campus. However, it was found that there were times where there would be excess energy produced from the wind turbines. A good example of such excess is when the wind turbines generate power at night. In this case, there would be very little load demand on the campus and the wind turbine needed to be shut down. This is why the Pure Energy^® Centre was commissioned to design and install a hydrogen energy storage system. The stored energy could then be re-used at a later stage when no wind generation was available through different hydrogen applications.

The Pure Energy^® Centre, an expert company in renewable and energy storage technologies, installed the hydrogen system. This consisted of a hydrogen electrolyser, a hydrogen store and a fuel cell. The hydrogen electrolyser is used to produce hydrogen from water. The electrolyser split water into its two main molecules. It uses electricity to break H2O (water) into H2 (hydrogen) and O2 (oxygen) molecules. The H2 gas is stored into a hydrogen tank while the O2 is vented to the atmosphere. In other installations, the O2 is also stored so that it can be used. Usage of the O2 gas is found in many industries such as welding, hospitals and others.

This cutting-edge project has been driven by Sahara Wind Inc. with financial support from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation NATO under its Science for Peace and Security frameworks. As a result, Al Akhawain University and Pure Energy^® Centre, will see many Moroccan engineers accessing state-of-the art energy storage technologies. Elizabeth Johnson, Business Development Manager of the Pure Energy^® Centre said: “We are very pleased to have been involved in Africa’s first wind hydrogen system. We are especially pleased to have installed latest hydrogen technologies which will be used for teaching and training tomorrow’s Africa top engineers. We feel very proud of the hydrogen system which operates at the back of wind power, fully demonstrating our commitment to renewables.”

Khalid Benhamou, from Sahara Wind Inc. said: “Renewables have one major issue in that they are intermittent. We have identified that we can reduce this issue by storing excess energy produced from renewables as hydrogen and thereafter reuse the hydrogen in a fuel cell for power generation. We feel that coupling wind and hydrogen will play an important role in Africa’s future through a variety of applications involving the continent’s main industries. The applications are indeed numerous: They range from powering telecommunications networks and green mobility (to be developed in partnership with local telecom and automotive industries) and extend to water utilities and mine processing industries. The latter would use hydrogen and other electrolysis byproducts such as chlorine as feedstock. We are therefore pleased that this project is a success and look forward to use green hydrogen for many applications.”

Khalid Loudiyi, from Al Akhawain University added: “The wind and hydrogen systems will be used for training, teaching and research. Our aim is to strengthen our research portfolio and to develop a number of hydrogen applications such as fuel cell vehicles, cooking and even heating as Al Akhawain University has been built at a 1600 meter height and winters are cold here. We are highly pleased that the wind hydrogen systems installation has been successful and look forward to a bright future for green energy and storage technologies in Morocco.”

Why hydrogen energy storage?
There are two main reasons the world’s need energy storage technologies. These are that energy storage can reduce (a) the impact of renewable intermittency and (b) resolve the issue with excess green power. When a turbine is installed, this turbine will only operate when there is wind. So when there is no wind, a conventional power station would need to be switched on to supply the demand. In addition, when there is wind, there may be no load demand; hence the wind turbines should be switched off. Shutting down wind turbines seems like a waste of green energy. This is where energy storage comes into play. When there is excess energy, the renewable source is not switched off, but instead it is stored as hydrogen. Whenever there is no renewable generation, then the stored hydrogen is used as a fuel for electricity generation, cooking, heating, in vehicles and other applications. Therefore hydrogen energy storage will play a more important role in modern society as the renewable installations increases substantially at a global level.

About the Pure Energy^® Centre:
The Pure Energy^® Centre, the Pure^® fuel, renewable energy, energy storage company, and the UK leader in renewable hydrogen systems, provides independent technical & consultancy services for the energy, renewable energy, transport, heating, building and hydrogen, oxygen, CNG, nitrogen sectors. At the Pure Energy Centre we deliver proven, guaranteed, independent energy solutions for your project across the environmental & energy spectrum including:

• Renewable energy • Hydrogen and fuel cells technologies • Electrolyser / Electrolyzer • Oxygen, CNG, Nitrogen and other gases • Control & monitoring • Consulting • Project management and environmental services • Energy infrastructure projects • Renewable hydrogen training courses • Technology integration

About Sahara Wind Inc.: 
Sahara Wind Inc.(www.saharawind.com) is the developer of the Sahara Wind Project which aims to connect over 5 GW of wind capacity from the Sahara trade wind region to North African and Euro-mediterranean electricity markets via a High Voltage Direct Current line. Since 2002 Sahara Wind Inc. has pioneered wind energy developments in North Africa. Sahara Wind Inc. supports regional collaboration and capacity building on local technology integration to access wind energy technologies. As part of this process and as an independent project development company, Sahara Wind Inc. disposes of expertise in the following fields:

• Resource assessment • Capacity building • Technology integration • Energy storage technologies & synergies in industrial processes • Project phasing & management • Electric grid network integration • Smart grid technologies • High Voltage Direct Current technologies (HVDC)

source: http://www.pureenergycentre.com

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

SkyFuel Wins 2012 SolarPaces Technology Award

Personal Notes: While it may seem like a small development, American company SkyFuel's development of a reflective and durable coating (ostensibly intended to replace heavier and less durable glass mirror on parabolic troughs) could hold enormous potential for Moroccan and North African solar energy. Indeed, as MASEN and its various backers and partners prepare to start work on the first phase of the Ouarzazate CSP project, questions as to the cost competitiveness, both of the project and the electricity it will produce, have continued to persist. While it may have been a bit too late to become part of the first phase of OZZ (as the Ouarzazate project is affectionately abbreviated) SkyFuel's innovation, and others like it, will undoubtedly contribute to the decrease in price which industry stakeholders have called inevitable, but also necessary to the continued expansion of CSP production in the region.

SOLAR NOVUS TODAY - 19 Sept. 2012

SkyFuel, Inc. was honoured with the 2012 Technology Award at the annual SolarPaces Conference, held on 11-14 September 2012 in Marrakech, Morocco. The award was won for the development of ReflecTechPlus—a high-reflectance, durable, silvered polymer film designed to reduce the lifecycle cost of parabolic-trough solar fields. ReflecTechPlus has proven to be durable outdoors for more than 30 years and incorporates an abrasion-resistant coating. The film was developed by ReflecTech, Inc. in collaboration with the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
The advantages of ReflecTechPlus for the concentrating solar power (CSP) industry are most clearly demonstrated in their application in SkyFuel's parabolic-trough concentrator. The SkyTrough was designed from the ground up to capitalize on the features of ReflecTechPlus. In contrast to glass-based mirrors, which rely on four or more individually mounted facets to fill the collector's aperture, the SkyTrough's ReflecTech-based reflectors are monolithic, flexible and lightweight and slide quickly into focus on precise parabolic guide rails attached to an aluminium space frame. These differences make the concentrator optically efficient and robust and they make it less expensive to manufacture, ship and install. ReflecTechPlus contains no lead and has cradle-to-grave embodied energy that is four times lower than curved-glass mirrors.

Source: http://www.solarnovus.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5695:skyfuel-wins-2012-solarpaces-technology-award&catid=37:business-news&Itemid=241 http://www.solarnovus.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5695:skyfuel-wins-2012-solarpaces-technology-award&catid=37:business-news&Itemid=241

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

New San Giorgio Group Report on the Ouarzazate Phase I CSP Project

Personal Notes: The San Giorgio Group, a special research group under the auspices of the Climate Policy Initiative, has recently contributed to the buzz about the Ouarzazate Phase I Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project with a case study primarily concurring the financing of the project. The 44 page report is a useful guide in laying out the complex system of loans, revenue agreements, and risk sharing that is the underlying framework of Ouarzazate Phase I -- a project which is not only large and expensive, but which will rely on a technology which is relatively new, untested, and, according to many in the field, economically unviable. The report also lays out keys players, their contributions to the project, and their expected benefits, be they profit, experience, reduced greenhouse gases, or increased local employment and industry. Lastly but perhaps most importantly, the case study lists a number of lessons it has drawn from the Public-Private partnership financing model of Ouarzazate Phase I, and how these lessons can be translated to other CSP projects both in North Africa and around the world.

The report can be found via the Climate Policy Initiative's website.



Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Supporting innovation in climate technologies and job creation in Morocco

Personal Notes: In many earlier blog posts about large energy projects underway in the region, we have stressed the importance of technology transfer -- specifically that this transfer of experience and know-how between firms and technical teams will allow more companies in the developing world to design and undertake their own projects. Such a knowledge transfer has the potential to be a huge economic driver in the region and the renewable energy sector but no less important is the potential for innovation within an economy, especially when that innovation is combined with entrepreneurship. Anyone who has worked, lived, or traveled in North Africa is a aware of the vast human resources that the region has to offer; qualified and talented engineers, savvy investors and forward-thinking business-people. While this potential exists, it has yet to be harnessed, with the major complaint being the difficulties innovators encounter when trying to profit from their ideas. The development of Climate Innovation Center in Morocco is a strong and solid step towards addressing this complaint and towards bridging the crucial gap between successful innovator and successful entrepreneur.

by Roger Coma-Cunill, Jonathan Coony and Manaf Touati (submitted August 10, 2012)

Last year, Mr. Berrada patented a new invention for solar-water heaters at the Moroccan Office of Property Rights (OMPIC). His idea is to improve the efficiency of solar-water heaters by introducing a heat-transport fluid system specially designed for buildings and communities. Mr. Berrada, a state engineer and a graduate of the Hassania School of Public Works, dreams of bringing his concept into commercial reality.

But he struggles.

To start with, he would need technical support to elaborate a business plan and financing for a prototype. If he could commercialize this promising technology, Moroccan consumers would be able to buy better solar-water heaters, local green jobs would be created and climate change emissions would be reduced.

The World Bank is currently developing a Climate Innovation Center (CIC) in Morocco to help innovators such as Mr. Berrada achieve their goals. CICs provide a tailored set of financing and other services to allow the local private sector to participate more pro-actively and profitably in the ongoing clean technology revolution.

InfoDev, a global partnership program within the World Bank Group, is leading the development of seven other CICs around the world. An on-going technical assistance project, jointly piloted by the World Bank and InfoDev, is preparing a business plan for the first CIC in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region after exhaustive consultations with numerous local stakeholders.

To identify the needs of entrepreneurs such as Mr. Berrada, the World Bank team recently finished a survey covering a broad spectrum of stakeholders engaged in innovation and climate technologies in Morocco. Around one hundred responses were received, half of them from industries and start-ups. The survey identified obstacles to innovation and ways that the Moroccan CIC could remove them. The results demonstrated a clear need among Moroccan stakeholders for the kind of services the CIC could provide. The key results of the survey are the following:

Strong demand for services to overcome the “valley of death” in product commercialization: applied research, demonstration and market entry.

Desire for (1) Information about market development and technologies, (2) Technical trainings, and (3) Financing suitable for small and medium enterprises that is not currently available in the market.

90% of respondents considered participation in national and international networks essential, which the CIC could provide to enhance technical capacities and foster technology transfer.

88% of respondents saw benefit in a focal point, or cluster, for climate technologies in Morocco such as the one that CIC could provide.

Morocco has a plethora of stakeholders involved in innovation and/or climate technologies. The government has recently put in place several instruments to show its commitment, e.g. innovation funds, clusters, etc. However, it will take some time before concrete results are visible . The CIC could support the country's progress towards a green economy. Moreover, it could assist Mr. Berrada and his fellow innovators in converting his dream into reality and, in the process , create badly needed local jobs.

Source: http://menablog.worldbank.org/supporting-innovation-climate-technologies-and-job-creation-morocco

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Genesis Morocco at the 2012 International Leadership Visitor Program in the U.S.

2012 International Leadership Visitor Program - ILVP

Here is a summary describing the project.


This multi-regional project for officials of ministries of environment and energy, local government officials, representatives of non-governmental organizations, academics, and journalists will explore emerging U.S. policies on climate change through discussions of various advances in renewable energy sources, markets, research and innovation. Participants will learn how the U.S. has historically met energy demands as well as recent pressures that have led to greater diversification and reliance on alternative energy. The interests and perspectives of government, industry and consumer groups will be examined within the wider debate to change energy use patterns in U.S. society.


Personal Notes : It is my great pleasure to announce my participation in the U.S. from August 13 to August 31 to the 2012 ILVP edition geared towards RE.  

I have to say that I am quite humbled at being the guest of the U.S State Department,  I am also convinced that this participation makes a lot of sense in the regard of the important and commendable efforts Morocco has engaged in the field of RE. 

This quite unique energy re-conversion from fossil fuels that is going forward is unprecedented for a developing nation, which only underlines both the scope of this effort and the leading role of Morocco in its region and indeed in the world in the fight against global warming, but also more essentially at becoming an energy efficient economy.

Sustainable development cannot materialize without addressing this crucial efficiency question, and we are well on our way to do just that with our 42% target of RE in our energy mix by 2020. 

What is stopping us from going for the remaining 33% ? Well sky truly is the limit, and that is why this journey with Genesis Morocco since 2006 has proved to be a fascinating and challenging one, because we might actually if we play our cards right be given someday in example as an country that succeeded in its energy reconversion and attained efficiency against many odds. It is my ambition that we beat the rest of the world to it. And we just might.

The remaining 25% of our energy mix to arrive at the full figure will undoubtedly come from sources such as coal and nuclear, which are necessary to stabilize the grids base load especially more so when the main source is variable.

In Europe some are already seeing how it is possible to couple many sources of RE such as solar, wind and wave power in order to obtain a more stable yield. Will it materialize in Morocco as well ? Well like I said, sky truly is the limit and these are indeed exiting times.  

Here follows the program in details.


Project Goals:  The project is designed to:  review U.S. energy policies and stances at the federal, state and municipal levels including trends in energy production and distribution, alternative and renewable energy approaches, and related topics; examine public-private partnerships for the development of clean energy and alternative fuel solutions and new technologies being introduced by the alternative fuel industry; and examine U.S. efforts in promoting international cooperation to expand the availability of alternative sources of energy, reducing global dependence on oil, and helping meet the growing energy demands of modern life.


Project Itinerary:

A.  Washington, D.C.:  August 11 - 18, 2012

Themes: Introduction to the U.S. federal system;  U.S. energy policy; Federal government policies and coordination on energy and climate matters; Impacts of the non-profit sector on renewable energy policy

The DC program will begin with a guided city tour of Washington, DC landmarks and institutions. The tour is a companion meeting to more in-depth discussion of federalist principles that will be addressed during the federalism briefing.  A leading national renewable energy expert will provide a comprehensive, introductory keynote briefing and assessment of the current American energy policy landscape and the current state of clean energy industries and technologies in the U.S.  At the U.S. Department of Energy, participants will gain insight into current strategies and approaches to moving the U.S. away from fossil fuel dependence and ensuring the its renewable energy capacity.

A meeting will be arranged with staff from the U.S. Global Change Research program (USGRP) to discuss federal intra-agency cooperation on climate change and how program research impacts federal policy formulation, particularly renewable energy.  The Division for Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) within the U.S. State Department's Office of International Energy and Commodity Policy represents the United States and prepares U.S. positions, with the Department of Energy, for all International Energy Agency meetings.  ENR staff will host a meeting to discuss the U.S.' role and efforts to promote renewable energy technology globally.  U.S. participation in the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) will also be addressed.

Participants will meet with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) staff to discuss development and implementation of programs that seek to help countries reduce their overall carbon emissions and address climate change through clean energy and energy efficiency projects. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will participate in a meeting to discuss ways in which the agency provides policy and research leadership in promoting GHG reduction strategies and alternative fuels in the transportation sector. The U.S. House of Representative's Subcommittee on Energy and Power has jurisdiction over national energy policy.  Subcommittee staff will host a meeting to provide insight into current Congressional priorities and challenges vis--vis clean energy legislation, particularly in an election year.  A guided tour of the U.S. Capitol will be included in conjunction with this meeting.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), a non-profit organization that advances innovative policy solutions will introduce their education and outreach activities, as well as provide a non-governmental perspective on the current climate in Congress vis--vis renewable energy.  The core mission of the Center for Strategic and International Studies' (CSIS) Energy and National Security Program is to offer tools that will provide policymakers with a thoughtful framework to stimulate the right mix of investments and international engagement on global energy and climate challenges.  Staff will address CSIS' current energy policy recommendations; offer perspectives on the U.S.' role in promoting clean energy in the global arena; and more broadly, provide insight into the role and impact of think tanks on American policymaking.

At the Energy Future Coalition, a meeting will focus on the organization's policy approaches and some of the primary areas of agreement and contention among the many stakeholders involved in and impacted by renewable energy policy. At the Renewable Energy Markets Association (REMA), a trade association dedicated to maintaining and growing strong markets for renewable energy in the U.S., staff will host a meeting to discuss REMA's policy advocacy strategies and priorities, and issues currently of greatest concern to its constituency.  The Coalition for Green Capital (CGC) also advocates for tax and finance policies that support investment in energy efficiency and clean energy.  Participants will meet with staff to discuss the critical issue of financing for clean energy projects and CGC's recommendations regarding how to incorporate low-cost, long-term finance as a pillar of eventual renewable energy policy legislation.

B.  Team City Splits:  August 18 - 22, 2012
Cities:  Miami, Florida; Orlando, Florida; Tampa, Florida

Themes: Ocean and wave energy research and applications; Converting organic materials into energy; Waste-to-energy conversion; Promoting energy efficiency and sustainability through the built environment

In Miami, Florida Atlantic University's Center for Ocean Energy Technology (COET) is building the capability, infrastructure, expertise and strategic partnerships needed to develop, test and deploy commercially-viable ocean energy systems to assist the nation in managing its energy crisis with the development of an environmentally responsible commercial marine energy industry.   A meeting will focus on the development of ocean energy technologies in the Florida Straits and the Gulf Stream, and the significance of federal backing of COET's work.  Florida Crystals is a leading sugar producer and the U.S.' first fully integrated cane sugar company.

The company's Cogenerational Plant, the largest renewable energy facility of its kind in North America and one of the largest in the world, uses its own crops and local urban wood waste as fuel to generate renewable electricity.  Plant staff will host a meeting to provide some context regarding Florida's biomass industry, more broadly, and Florida Crystals' own energy production efforts within this context. Florida International University's Applied Research Center (ARC) has responded to the global shift toward increased energy security and climate protection by spearheading technology development in biomass conversion to fuels and power, algal fuels, and deployment of renewable energy systems.  This meeting will focus on ARC's algal fuels research within the broader context of algae technology development nation-wide, and address the commercial viability of algae as a renewable energy source.

Miami-Dade County Resources Recovery Facility (RRF) is a waste-to-energy plant located in northwest Miami-Dade County. Power generated at the facility is sold to a private company and supplied to the electrical grid.  RRF staff will hold a meeting to discuss operations and technology and provide a tour of the facility. The Spinnaker Group helps to build better, smarter, easier to operate and more cost effective building for a diverse range of clients.  Their staff will lead a tour of one of their LEED-certified buildings and discuss its energy-saving and sustainable design features.

In Orlando, the program chair of the College of Engineering Department of Marine and Environmental Systems at Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) has been working closely with Clean and Green Enterprises, a clean energy company with proprietary technology for harnessing electricity from ocean waves, to develop a test model for their Wing-Wave system.  Dr. Wood will meet with participants to provide an overview of the range of ocean energy research currently being conducted; discuss his ocean energy work and research; and share perspectives on the commercial viability of ocean energy. Materials Recycling of Orlando is focused on sales of agricultural biogenic fuels, including woody biomass for use as boiler fuel and cellulosic feedstock, and liquid agricultural fuels.  Staff will host a meeting to provide an introduction to current state of Florida's biomass industry; the company's current operations and services; and perspectives on how their growth potential as a small energy producer will be impacted by future federal energy policies.  A tour of the facility will be included.

Parabel provides renewable technology and solutions to address the global demand for new sources of feed, food and fuel. The company has developed unique proprietary technology for improving the yields of naturally occurring aquatic micro-crops to create products for agriculture and energy markets.  Staff will host a meeting to discuss Parabel's technology and products; local demand and global potential for algal biofuels; some of the challenges of commercialization.  A discussion with Sanford South Water Resource Center will focus on its work in utilizing gasification technology to convert its wastewater sludge into thermal energy. Orlando-based architecture firm C.T. Hsu and Associates uses a multidisciplinary approach that guarantees that every project exceeds expectations for quality and sustainability.  A meeting will be arranged to discuss LEED design features, the kind of energy efficiencies that they offer, and some of the firm's sustainable design projects.


In Tampa, Florida, SRI International, an independent, nonprofit research institute will ask staff to offer an overview of the range and scope of ocean energy research being conducted in the U.S.; their wave-powered generators; and prospects for ocean energy as a sustainable energy source. University of Southern Florida Polytechnic's (USFP) Alternative Energy Research Center (AERC) is USFP's focal point for all energy-related activities. A meeting will be arranged with the AERC director for a discussion of the  Florida biomass market; how research and developments at institutions like AERC impact Florida's biomass industry; and most current biomass research taking place at AERC.  Culturing Solutions is a company that designs and manufactures photobioreactors and other algae processing production tools. The company's revolutionary process takes waste gases emitted by industry that would normally contribute to air pollution and climate change and
recycles the harmful greenhouse gas to dramatically increase the growth rate of the algae.  Participants will meet with the company's CEO and visit their demonstration site.


The Pinellas County Department of Solid Waste Operations' Waste-to-Energy (WTE) facility processes about one million tons of garbage every year. The process can produce up to 75 megawatts (MW) per hour of electricity, which is used to power the plant itself and is also sold to a local utility company for distribution within the community.  Staff will host a meeting and tour to introduce the facility's operations, technology and energy production.


C. Sacramento, California:  August 22 - 28, 2012

Themes: State level energy policies; Renewable vehicle fuel technologies; Smart grid technology; Role of clean energy incubators; Geothermal and solar energy


The three subgroups will reunite in Sacramento, California, where they will meet with staff from the California Energy Commission, the state's primary energy policy and planning agency.  This meeting will address California's 2011 Bioenergy Action Plan and landmark state legislation, including the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and the California Alternative and Renewable Fuel, Vehicle Technology, Clean Air, and Carbon Reduction Act of 2007. California Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee is a standing committee of the California Senate with jurisdiction over bills relating to utilities, energy companies, alternative energy development and conservation, and communications development and technology.  A meeting will be arranged to discuss
recent and current state legislative priorities and concerns as they pertain to the development of renewable energy markets and technology.


The California Fuel Cell Partnership is a collaboration of organizations, including auto manufacturers, energy providers, government agencies and fuel cell technology companies, that work together to promote the commercialization of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Staff will hold a meeting to provide an introduction to latest developments in hydrogen fuel cell technology and the current status of and future prospect for the hydrogen fuel cell market.  Pacific Ethanol is the largest West Coast-based marketer and producer of ethanol and a leader in producing and marketing low-carbon ethanol.  It is also working to identify and develop other renewable fuel technologies, such as cellulose-based ethanol production and bio-diesel.  This meeting will provide an industry perspective on the current state and evolution of the American ethanol industry; the company's operations; and how the company has been impacted by the enactment of California's new Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

The Geysers, comprising 45 square miles along the Sonoma and Lake County border, is the largest complex of geothermal power plants in the world.  Calpine, the largest geothermal power producer in the U.S., owns and operates 15 power plants at The Geysers.  A meeting and tour of the facilities will be arranged for participants to gain insight into geothermal energy production in the U.S., including some of the primary advantages and disadvantages of this form of energy.

Solar Power Integrators is focused on providing photovoltaic solar electric solutions to government and public building projects nationwide.  A meeting will provide an overview of the solar industry in California, including current trends, challenges and opportunities.  A visit to a solar panel field will be included. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), is implementing an advanced operating system for its distribution system, which will automate portions of its system with the goal of delivering energy savings through increased efficiencies.  This meeting will provide an introduction to California's "de-coupling" policy and how it has altered electric utility operations in the state and latest developments in smart grid technology. Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance (SARTA) is the nexus that links technology leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, service providers, community organizations, and educational institutions. SARTA's CleanStart program was specifically designed to stimulate the development and success of early stage clean technology companies and to build a regional clean tech cluster.  Participants will meet with staff to discuss the role and impact of clean energy incubators in the development of successful clean tech companies.


D.  Denver, Colorado:  August 28 - September 1, 2012

Themes:  Federal government research on renewable energy and climate change; University-based energy research; Wind energy markets, production and technology; Project evaluation


The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located in Golden, Colorado, is the only national laboratory solely dedicated to advancing renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies from concept to commercial application.  In addition to an overview of NREL, staff from the Solar Energy Research Facility will lead a discussion regarding NREL's solar energy research and testing on photovoltaics and solar thermal systems.  At the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) in Boulder, Colorado, a meeting will be arranged to discuss latest climate change research initiatives and findings, as well as future plans to collaborate with NREL on atmospheric science research that can expedite renewable energy development. At Colorado State University, Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory (EECL), staff will discuss strategies, approaches and challenges to integrating cutting-edge research with industry know-how to accelerate the transfer of renewable energy technologies into the marketplace.


The Colorado Center for Biorefining and Biofuels (C2B2) is a cooperative research and educational center devoted to the conversion of biomass to fuels and other products.  A meeting will focus on education and training for C2B2 students and address how the curriculum is enhanced though industry partnerships. Vestas-American Wind Technology is the North American arm of Vestas Wind Systems, the world's largest manufacturer of wind turbines.  A discussion will highlight the company's U.S. operations and focus on the American and global wind energy markets, including trends, challenges and forecasts. Xcel Energy's Ponnequin Wind Farm is Colorado's first commercial wind farm.  Engineering staff will discuss the facility's operations; major factors that influence the selection of its location; operational costs and challenges; and common public concerns expressed about wind farms.  State Department and MCID staff will meet with participants at the conclusion of the program for an oral program evaluation.


6.  A participant list to date follows:

Approved Candidates:
____________________


ALGERIA:  Ali SOKHAL:  Director of Business Development, Energy Algeria (NEAL), Algiers, Algeria;


AUSTRALIA:  Heather BRODIE:  Chief Executive Officer, Biofuels Association of Australia;



AUSTRIA:  Elfreide-Anna MORE:  Head, Dept. of International Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Environment, Forestry and Water Management, Vienna;



BANGLEDESH:  Ahmed KHAN:  Executive Engineer, Directorate of Renewable Energy, Power Dev. Board;



ETHIOPIA:  Wossenu WELDEKIROS: Director, Alternative Energy Technology Promotion and Dissemination Directorate, Ministry of Water and Energy;



GREECE:  Zafeiroula DIMADAMA:  Director General, International Center for Black Sea Studies;



HONG KONG, SAR:  Fung TSANG:  Assistant Director, Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong SAR Government ;



KENYA:  Felix OMONYA:  Science Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology's National Council for Science and Technology;



MAURITIUS:  Mahomed MAHOMED:  Chairman of Steering Committee on Maurice Ile Durable (Sustainable Development);



MEXICO:  William JENSEN DIAZ:  Head of Dept. for North America, Direction-General for International Affairs, Secretariat of Energy;



MONGOLIA:  Bayannasan SAINBILEG:  Scientific Secretary, Institute of Physics and Technology,Mongolian Academy of Sciences;



MOROCCO:  Nabil EL AID EL OTHMANI: Information Services Analyst;



NEPAL:  Anjila MANANDHAR:  Coordinator, Clean Air Network Nepal;


PHILIPPINES:  Lawrence ANG: Climate Change Program Manager DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION;



SOUTH AFRICA:  Siziwe KHANYILE:  Campaign Manager, Air Quality, Climate and Energy, Friends of the Earth South Africa;



THAILAND:  Mongkol PRONGIUNTUEK:  Senior Engineer, Bureau of Biofuel Development, Department of Alternative Development and Efficiency;



TUNISIA:  Walid HAMADA: Associate Professor at the National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia;



TUNISIA:  Mohamed Mongri BEN YAICHE:  Engineer at the Ministry of Industry and Technology;



UNITED KINGDOM:  Stephen ALLEN:  Scientific Adviser - Energy ,
Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, UK Parliament;



UZBEKISTAN:  Irina GILFANOVA:  General Director, "SSP Astraia
Managment" Ltd;



UZBEKISTAN:  Andrey MALEEV:  System administrator, Center for the
Development of Multimedia General Education Programs;



VIETNAM:  Vu TRUONG:  Scientific specialist, Science Administration
Division, HCMC Department of Science and Technology;



VIETNAM:  Minh NGUYEN: Official, Department of Science, Education,
Natural Resources, and Environment; Ministry of Planning and
Investment.



Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Nareva, Kharabel win Moroccan 300 MW wind farm deal

Personal Notes: While the selection of Nareva for the Tarfaya project comes as no surprise, what is perhaps more interesting is its partnership with Kahrabel (Kharabel?) FZE, itself a subsidiary of the global energy giant GDF Suez Energy International. Not only is it a further example of local partners pairing with more experienced foreign firms, but Kahrabel's particular experience also extends to desalination. Thus while Tarfaya is, for the present, officially just a wind farm, it would not be surprising to hear of a further expansion to the project, possibly providing further fresh water resources to the coastal desert city of Tarfaya.

RABAT Aug 1 (Reuters: Reporting By Souhail Karam) - Morocco's state power utility ONE has selected a consortium comprised of local Nareva and UAE-based Kharabel FZE to develop a 300-megawatt wind farm in the southern Tarfaya region, the local Les Echos newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Quoting ONE's legal advisers, Chadbourne & Parke, the newsparer said the consortium valued the project at $350 million. A spokesperson for ONE could not immediately comment the report.

The project would be Africa's biggest wind farm.

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Islamic Banks and Renewable Energy in MENA

By Richard Matthews

Islamic banking involves activity that is consistent with the principles of sharia law. Sharia prohibits the fixed or floating payment or acceptance of specific interest or fees for loans of money. It is also prohibited to invest in businesses that provide goods or services considered contrary to Islamic principles. Many Islamic banks were formed in the late 20th century. Now Islamic banks are are increasingly looking to support renewable energy including hydropower, solar and wind energy. Finance is a crucially important component of building a green infrastructure and this is especially true in the context of economic difficulty and political volatility we are seeing in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

As reported in an article titled “Tapping the Renewable Energy Market,” Islamic lending institutions that create financial mechanisms will benefit the growth of renewable energy. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) solar power projects are driving major new investment. With projects like Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City and the German-led Desertec Industrial Initiative (DII) it is expected that the region will be able to export energy throughout the region and into Europe.

The Shams Power Co. alone is partnering in a $600 million investment to build one of the world’s largest concentrated solar power (CSP) projects.Sustainable water projects are also garnering interest from Islamic banks. One bank in particular diverted part of its real estate holdings into trade finance which led to the first Shari’ah-compliant water-focused investment strategy.

Through the UK-based Islamic investment bank Gatehouse Bank Plc people can now invest in sustainable-oriented companies that offer technology, products and services throughout the water industry. Ocean water desalination is another area which offers tremendous potential for growth. Saudi Arabia is planning to convert all of its seawater desalination plants to renewable energy by 2019. This could attract more than half a trillion dollars in private sector investment over the next five years.

Recently, Islamic banking saw the release of a green financial certificates for the financing of climate change investments and renewable energy projects. The Climate Bonds Initiative, the Clean Energy Business Council of MENA, and the Gulf Bond and Sukuk Association launched the Green Sukuk Working Group to help market and develop the best practices to promote the issuance of green financial certificates.

There is good evidence to indicate that renewable energy investments are successful ventures for Islamic banks. Between 2004 and 2007, Islamic Financier, Bahrain-based Arcapita Bank made significant gains by investing in wind power, reportedly making it one of the most profitable investments in the firms history.

Source : http://www.nl-aid.org

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com

Saudi Arabia Helps Morocco Kick-Start Solar Program

Personal Notes: With speculation (largely fueled by "inside sources" from the Moroccan government) that the conglomerate lead by Saudi company ACWA will win the bid for the first phase of the Ouarzazate project, it once again highlights not only the importance of regional cooperation on financing, but also on one of the trickier but more valuable aspects of renewable energy growth -- technological know-how and familiarity. For countries such as Morocco, Saudi Arabia, or most recently Algeria, realizing the full benefit of their capacity expansion goals in terms of employment and economic growth both in the short-term and long-term relies not only on financing but also on a serious transfer of technological know-how. Failing to do so would mean a serious disadvantage for regional firms vis-a-vis their European counterparts, many of whom have gained significant and meaningful experience and understanding from Europe's own drive towards renewable energy capacity. While no one expects component parts manufacturers, maintenance technicians, and concept and design teams to spring up overnight, sustained and actual "tech transfer" will help grow not only renewable energy production capacity in the region, but also an entire renewable energy industry -- an industry which may even become more valuable as a service export than the actual export of energy commodities.

It is my personal opinion that this emphasis on the sharing or experiential and technological expertise was a clear and intelligent part of the entire Ouarzazate Phase I tender process. Three out of the four original bidding conglomerates consisted of regional partners paired with firms that have made their mark in the European renewable energy field and the exclusion of the ORASCOM conglomerate bid was likely due to the failure of one of their European partners, Solar Millennium AG. Therefore this, still unconfirmed, win by ACWA means that it, and the Saudi renewable energy industry, will likely gain some important experience and familiarity with what may be one of the most promising new solar power technologies -- solar CSP.

English: Photovoltaic Micro-plants by Isofoton (Morocco) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Christopher Coats -- Forbes Magazine

Hailed as the next green energy leader in the sun-soaked Mediterranean, Morocco has been taking steps towards reaching a 40 percent renewable mix by 2020, essentially doubling even Europe’s clean energy goals. However, figuring out just how a country with little in the way of domestic energy reserves and rather unsustainable public spending obligations is going to pay for it all has remained a sticking point for all concerned.

The last few months have done little to remedy this situation. To the north, the country’s main trading partners and potential investors continue to struggle with a seemingly endless economic crisis. Closer to home, government spending has continued to rise in step with efforts to curb the kind of growing public protests that led to challenges to the government in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. Taken with a nation-wide drought, the situation has left Morocco posting a modest 2.5 to 3 percent growth rate for the year.
Enter Saudi Arabia. This week saw an anonymous government source tell Reuters that Morocco state officials had all but decided that they would team with Saudi Arabia’s International Company for Water and Power (ACWA) to kick start what amounts to the first stage of the country’s sprawling solar plan outside the southern town of Ouarzazate – a 160 MW component of a 6 GW overall renewable strategy planned over the next eight years. The public-private effort will cost about $500 million and include an agreement with ACWA to handle financing, design, construction and maintenance of the plant.

The broader plan, which was initiated in 2009, promises 2 GW from wind power (300 MW are already installed) and 2GW from a planned 5 solar projects across the country, amounting to about 18 percent of Morocco’s energy demand, with construction planned between 2014 and 2020, according to a Saudi Gazette report. The remaining renewable options will come from hydro and biomass projects.

While an official government announcement on the project funding and partnership has not been offered, the reported step forward is welcome news for the country’s green energy advocates, both at home and those associated with the German-led Desertec initiative. While the far-reaching Desertec renewable energy project includes green energy projects from Tunis to Cairo, Morocco has emerged as the program’s best bet for a successful anchor project thanks to their early adoption and support for solar and wind efforts.

Still, there is a long road ahead for the North African nation’s renewable energy dreams, not least because of recent increases in government spending green advocates would have rather seen go towards project and infrastructure development. Over the past year, public program spending from Rabat has increased in response to growing political protests, with new subsidies and job efforts aimed at calming potential opposition movements. While early efforts combined with elections and pledges for constitutional reforms helped ease the tension, sustaining such spending with minimal natural resource revenue is becoming an increasingly difficult task to keep up.

Dependent on exports for much of their energy needs and largely free of domestic oil and gas resources, Morocco launched their 2009 renewable energy program as a part of a diversification effort that has included traditional projects and beefing up the country’s role as an energy transport hub. Looking beyond green options, Morocco has also stepped up traditional energy license offers as well as exploring offshore drilling efforts, though there is far less confidence in that sector’s potential. Earlier this year, Tangiers opened an expanded storage facility for oil, gas and other refined materials aimed at the more than 70,000 ships that pass through the Strait of Gibraltar each year.

Genesis Morocco : http://genesismorocco.blogspot.com