Siemens Energy has secured its first wind turbine orders within Africa, with orders for two new wind farms going up in Morocco.
Siemens will supply turbines with a total capacity of 100 MW, 50 MW to the Haouma Wind Farm project in Northern Morocco, and 50 MW to Foum El Oued in Southern Morocco. Siemens has a 50 year history in Morocco, and supplied the electrical infrastructure for Morocco’s 60 MW-Essaouira wind farm, so it would be natural for Morocco to turn to the engineering giant now that it is launching its renewable energy sector.
Plus – Siemens is one of the biggest backers of the Desertec Initiative – now beginning in Morocco.
Although 100 MW is a very small first order from an entire continent, Siemens is clearly banking on a future there. The company is announcing plans to establish a regional Wind Power Business Unit Middle East to focus on the MENA region as part of a new Wind Power Division.
The company says that Africa is an emerging wind market with Morocco currently being number two in installations.