Morocco seeks solar proposals
A request for proposal by the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (Masen) has been issued in respect of the 300 MW solar thermal projects that it is sponsoring. Once built at Ouarzazate, the Noor project is expected to be the largest single solar complex in the world.
It is believed that the tended document was issued to pre-qualified bidders in early November 2013 and site visits for the 200 MW Noor II and 300 MW Noor III projects took place last week. Bidders have until mid-December to submit their comments on contractual documents with initial bids for the projects due in February or March 2014. Masen will hold meetings to clarify elements of the initial bids in April following which a final bid request for proposal will be issued in May 2014 and final bids will be due in June or July 2014.
The following consortia have prequalified in the tender of NOOR II, a 200 MW solar parabolic trough project:
"¢ Abengoa SA and Abengoa Solar;
"¢ ACWA Power International and Spanish solar company Sener; and
"¢ GDF Suez and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar).
The following joint ventures have been shortlisted for the NOOR III bid:
"¢ the ACWA Power/Sener joint venture;
"¢ GDF Suez alongside Masdar and Solar Reserve; and
"¢ a consortium of EDF Group, Mitsui, BrightSource and Alstom.
Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power and its consortium partners signed a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) worth $1.1 billion after winning the first 160 MW phase of the Noor project. ACWA filed a bid with a tariff of MAD159.7944 per KWh ($19.29).
Masen indicated earlier this year that it intends to provide a stapled debt financing package for Noor II and Noor III from the World Bank and Germany's KfW who previously committed to Noor I.
