Energy Central
GDF Suez S.A., an electric utility company, together with its partner Nareva Holding, has started the operation of 301MW Tarfaya wind farm in Morocco.
The project has been built by Tarfaya Energy Company (TAREC), a 50:50 joint venture between both partners. Tarfaya wind farm comprises 131 wind turbines of 2.3 MW each, spread over an area of 8,900 hectares. The project will generate enough carbon-free electricity for 1.5 million homes.
The wind farm is expected to yield a high load factor of 45%, which makes it a competitive renewable energy source that will save 900,000 tons of CO2 per year. The 301 MW capacity represents 15% of the 2 GW target Morocco has set for wind energy development.
Gerard Mestrallet, Chairman and CEO of GDF Suez commented:”Tarfaya wind farm provides Morocco with a domestic source of clean energy enhancing the country’s energy independence. Our Group is committed to sustainability and this project will significantly contribute to our objectives for renewables growth worldwide.”
The Tarfaya plant has been contracted to supply electricity to the Moroccan state utility Office National de l’Electricite et de l’Eau Potable (ONEE) under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) on a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) basis. Construction of the wind farm started in January 2013 and phased commercial operation commenced in tranches of 50 MW in June 2014. The wind farm will be operated by TAREC. The total investment cost of the project is approximately E450 million.
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