OWC
A consortium led by renewable energy consultancy OWC has been appointed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to provide a comprehensive feasibility study for the development of Morocco’s first offshore wind farm.
The offshore wind project in question is endorsed by the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN) and will be assessed with a particular focus on construction on the Atlantic coast near Essaouira, Morocco.
OWC is leading the consortium, which comprises specialist marine, environmental, and wind consultancies, as well as African, European, and Moroccan engineering and project management partners such as PHENIXA (Ginger Group), Gaïa Terre Bleue (GTB), NOVEC, and SOFECO (Ginger Group).
This feasibility study is being conducted over a two-year period under EIB’s contract AA-010864-002 and is funded by the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) Trust Fund. It includes offshore wind market and supply chain studies, site selection services, wind yield assessment through a meteorological wind campaign, full offshore wind farm concept design, ports and logistics studies, risk analysis, and regulatory framework review.
The study will be complemented by grid impact and integration assessments delivered in conjunction with Moroccan grid specialists, detailed marine advisory, and environmental and social impact assessments.
“This is a major milestone for Morocco’s and Africa’s renewable energy journey. Together with our consortium partners, OWC supports EIB and MASEN in every aspect of this pioneering project – from market analysis and technical assessments to geoscience, offshore wind design, and marine logistics. Backed by the wider capability of our sister companies in Aqualis, we bring the necessary engineering and marine disciplines, along with a proven track record on similar projects, to ensure the success of this initiative,” said Hakim Mouslim, OWC’s Regional Director for Europe and Africa.
