Solarcentury to sun itself in brightening Middle East solar market

The growing attractiveness of the solar energy market in the Middle East and North Africa was underlined this week as a flurry of new project announcements underlined the potential for the region to establish itself as a major renewable energy hub.

UK-based solar energy firm Solarcentury led the way, inking a major new partnership agreement with Abu Dhabi-based renewable energy firm Enviromena Power Systems that will see the two companies co-operate in the development of commercial and residential rooftop solar panel projects in the Middle East.

Currently, Enviromena specialises in the development of large-scale power plants and was involved in the development of the high-profile 10MW Masdar solar farm in Abu Dhabi. However, the company is now looking to bolster its presence in the market for building integrated solar panels and will work with Solarcentury to expand its expertise in the growing market.

"We are offering support to Environmena in working to find the best solar building products for their projects using the experience of our own engineers and designers," explained Derry Newman, chief executive of Solarcentury. "We hope the partnering will prosper and produce some really ground-breaking solar photovoltaics, setting the standard for low carbon development."

The partnership was announced just a day after the Moroccan government confirmed it will soon invite bids for a project to build the country's first solar power station.

Energy Minister Amina Benkhadra told news agency Reuters that tenders for the proposed 500MW plant near the southern town of Ouarzazate would be issued by the end of February.

The plant is to represent the first phase in a major renewable energy programme for the country that aims to deliver five large solar farms capable of generating 38 per cent of Morocco's power by 2020.

It is anticipated that the new solar plants could play a part in the high-profile European Desertec project which aims to import power from North African solar farms into Europe.

Benkhadra confirmed that the government had "received expressions of interest from several foreign states and from big foreign companies which want to take part in our solar project".

In related news, local media in Qatar reported that plans for a $1bn solar energy project in the country could be in the pipeline after an official revealed that negotiations to raise investment for the project got underway between a number of Qatari and foreign firms late last year.