The 150 MW Laayoune wind power plant is set to power the second phase of the Agadir desalination project in Morocco.
In a statement by the chief developer of the wind plant, AMEA Power, the facility will be powered by the 150 MW wind project in Laayoune and will become the company’s first water desalination plant in North Africa once operational.
Speaking on the development, Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of AMEA Power, said:
“Our entry into the second phase of the Agadir desalination project in Morocco, under the Water Alliance Ventures platform, reflects AMEA Power’s ambition to address both water and energy challenges through integrated solutions.
“This project is not only our first entry into the water sector in North Africa – it is also a powerful example of what long-term partnerships can achieve for sustainable development across the region”.
AMEA Power is at the forefront of private sector renewable energy development in Africa with a 500 MW solar PV plant in Egypt and a 50MW solar PV project in Ivory Coast, among others.
Laayoune wind project
The Laayoune wind power project involves the construction of a 150-megawatt wind farm.
The project is developed through a partnership between the Moroccan conglomerate YNNA Group and AMEA Power.
It is the culmination of an agreement signed between the two companies in June this year.
The project is part of Morocco’s broader strategy to increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix to 52% by 2030.
It is expected to reduce over 330,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually.
Construction is scheduled to begin in the last quarter of 2025, with the plant expected to go online in 2027.
On its part, the Agadir phase two project is an expansion of the previous desalination plant.
Upon completion of the expansion, the plant will reach a total capacity of 400,000 m3/day, making it one of the largest desalination facilities in Africa.
The first phase of the plant was developed by Spanish Cox, a global leader in water and energy management.
The second phase will be developed through a joint venture, with AMEA Power joining the project and supplying renewable energy through its wind farm in Laayoune.
The total investment for the second phase of the desalination project and the associated wind power facility is expected to exceed $288.5 million.
The desalination expansion is expected to be operational at the end of 2026.
