The Moroccan National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) has officially launched an international tender for the construction of a $6.18 million hybrid solar-diesel power plant with battery storage in El Guerguarat.
According to a recent public notice issued by ONEE and seen by Energy in Africa, the project will be implemented on a 10-hectare site in the country’s southern region within an 18-month timeline.
The hybrid power plant will integrate a complete energy solution combining renewable generation, storage, and backup generators.
The solar system will have a capacity of 1.5 MWc, paired with a 1.5 MWh battery storage system to stabilize electricity output.
The diesel component will include two 1,000 kVA generator sets and two 500 kVA units to ensure continuous power supply during periods of low solar production or peak demand.
The entire system will be connected to the national grid through a 22 kV distribution substation, which will manage inputs from various energy sources.
An Energy Management System (EMS) will intelligently control the entire operation to ensure optimal electricity supply to El Guerguarat.
Requirements for bidders
The tender includes strict eligibility requirements across electrical works, solar PV installation, battery storage, and civil engineering.
Bidders must submit proposals by September 25, along with a $100,000 provisional guarantee.
All bids must remain valid for 120 days from the opening date.
- Electrical works (HTA/BT): ONEE’s HTA/BT3 accreditation or proof of completing a similar project worth more than $500,000 in the last five years.
- Solar PV: A similar photovoltaic project of at least 1.5 MWc valued at over$1 million in the past five years.
- Battery storage/civil engineering: Comparable project experience within the last five years.
In addition, all bidders must demonstrate an average annual turnover of at least $3 million over the past three years.
Moroccan companies will benefit from a 15% preference margin.
Morocco’s renewable energy drive
In the last decade, Morocco has made substantial investments in renewable energy, which now accounts for 38% of its electricity supply.
This is part of ONEE’s broader 2025–2030 equipment plan, involving $22 billion in investments.
The El Guerguarat project follows other sustainable initiatives in the region, such as the Agadir water desalination plant commissioned on November 8, 2023.
Recently, wind power developer AMEA Power announced that its 150 MW Laayoune plant is ready to supply electricity for the second phase of the desalination project.
These investments are designed to accelerate the country’s energy transition by integrating more renewables, expanding storage capacity, and strengthening the transmission network.
In July, Energy Minister Leila Benali announced plans to invest up to $10 billion to increase Morocco’s installed power capacity to 16 gigawatts in the near future.
The government expects these efforts to boost the renewable share of installed capacity to 56% by 2027 and raise the renewable share of total electricity generation to 52% by 2030.
