USTDA Supports Morocco's Efforts to Deploy Solar Energy
June 10, 2011
(USTDA)
ARLINGTON, VA – Building on the Obama Administration's efforts to open overseas
markets for clean energy technologies, USTDA is supporting the Moroccan Agency
for Solar Energy (MASEN) as it begins to deploy 500 MW of solar electricity near
the city of Ouarzazate. During the signing ceremony attended by His Majesty King
Mohammed VI, USTDA committed $642,000 to help demonstrate the applicability of
concentrated solar power based on solar tower technology. Mr. Mustapha Bakkoury,
President of MASEN, signed on behalf of MASEN, and Jane Kitson, Senior
Commercial Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Casablanca, signed on behalf of
USTDA.
"This grant continues a strong relationship between USTDA and the Government of
Morocco, and represents the beginning of our relationship with the Moroccan
Agency for Solar Energy," said USTDA Director Leocadia I. Zak. "We are excited
for the opportunity to work on such a high priority project in Morocco, and
support U.S. technologies and business involvement in this exciting
initiative."
The technical assistance will determine the impact of a CSP plant on the
electrical power grid as well as evaluate power storage options and water usage.
The implementation of renewable energy is critical to Morocco’s economic
development as the country relies heavily on imported sources of energy to meet
more than 97% of the country's energy needs.
The opportunity to conduct the USTDA-funded technical assistance will be
competed on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website. A link to the FBO
announcement will be posted to USTDA's website at www.ustda.gov. Interested U.S.
firms should submit proposals according to the instructions in the FBO
announcement. MASEN will select the U.S. contractor that will complete the
technical assistance.
For more information, go to www.ustda.gov
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