Masen, EDF Renewables Announce Repowering of Koudia Al Baida Wind Farm

The annual energy output of the wind farm Nassim Koudia Al Baidawill will meet the needs of approximately 420,000 people while saving the equivalent of 308,000 tons of CO2.

Masen, the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy, and its partner EDF Renouvelables, a renewable electricity production firm, announced today the financial settlement of the repowering of the Nassim Koudia Al Baida wind farm in Tlat Taghramt near Tangier in northern Morocco.

Financed by commercial loans by Attijariwafa Bank, Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (BERD), and Societe Generale Banking Group, the repowering of this project will double the output capacity to 100 MW, up from the 50 MW built by the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) in 2000.

The Nassim Koudia Al Baida wind farm is the first of its kind on the African continent and in Morocco. It was initiated and commissioned in 2000 by the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE), with a capacity of 50.4 MW based on 84 wind turbines.

Through this repowering, existing turbines will be recharged and replaced with a new generation of greater efficiency wind turbines

The financial completion of Nassim Koudia Al Baida has prompted the immediate start of the wind farm construction, particularly the fabrication of its blades, provided by Siemens Gamesa in its Tangier facility, according to the joint statement published by Masen.

After its projected completion in the second quarter of 2024, Nassim Koudia Al Baida’s yearly energy output will cover the consumption demands of about 420,000 people. It will save the equivalent of 308,000 tons of CO2 every year, according to Masen.

Just like the Noor solar plan, Masen continues, the Nassim wind plan also contributes to Morocco’s objective of obtaining at least 52% renewable capacity in its power mix by 2030.