Transforming Energy Supply through Innovation
In the near future, consumers in Germany could benefit from affordable and sustainable electricity sourced from Morocco, thanks to the ambitious Sila Atlantik project. Following the collapse of the Desertec initiative in 2014, which aimed to provide European customers with green energy but faltered due to a lack of support, Sila Atlantik is determined to succeed where its predecessor failed. The new project envisions harnessing an impressive 15 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar capacity in Morocco to produce up to 26 terawatt-hours (TWh) of green electricity annually. Set to begin delivering power to Germany by 2032, this initiative has the potential to cover approximately five percent of the country's electricity needs.
Recent developments indicate that Sila Atlantik is gaining traction, particularly with the support of the Moroccan government. According to a report by Handelsblatt, the Moroccan administration has expressed a favorable view of the project in a letter to Germany's Federal Ministry of Economics. The correspondence, attributed to Moroccan Minister of Energy Transition Leila Benali, highlighted that the project aligns perfectly with Morocco's strategic vision for energy. The Moroccan government is keen to engage closely with German authorities to further discuss the development of this groundbreaking venture.
Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness of Moroccan Energy Production
The efficiency of electricity generation through wind farms and photovoltaic (PV) installations in Morocco significantly surpasses that of Germany. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) anticipates that by 2026, PV systems in Germany will achieve approximately 864 full-load hours (Vbh) for ground-mounted systems and 895 Vbh for rooftop installations. In contrast, onshore wind energy is expected to yield 1904 Vbh, while offshore wind energy could reach 3125 Vbh. In Morocco, the output for photovoltaic systems can be four to five times higher, particularly in coastal areas where wind energy production is also expected to be more fruitful.
To facilitate the transmission of this green energy, a high-voltage cable stretching approximately 4800 kilometers will be constructed, featuring two strands with a capacity of 1.8 GW each, running from Morocco to Germany. As the project name suggests, this cable will traverse along the Atlantic coastlines of Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. In Germany, the electricity will be fed into the Tennet grid at a site in Emden, Lower Saxony, while another connection point will be established at an Amprion location south of Cologne, aimed at balancing the energy disparities between the wind-rich northern regions and the energy-intensive southern areas.
The advantages of producing electricity in Morocco are twofold: the higher utilization rates of the facilities lead to a reduced price per kilowatt-hour, and the overall system costs in Germany diminish. This is primarily because the more consistent energy generation from Moroccan wind and solar parks reduces the need for costly balancing mechanisms, such as gas power plants. Despite the significant opportunities, the project faces formidable financial risks, with estimated costs ranging from 30 to 40 billion euros. Nevertheless, Sila Atlantik has garnered support from major energy companies, including Eon, Uniper, and the UK energy supplier Octopus Energy, along with interest from prominent strategic investors.
Furthermore, Sila Atlantik enjoys political backing within Germany and the EU. The project has been included in the Ten Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP) of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), and it may receive the designation of a "Project of Mutual Interest" (PMI) from the European Commission. This recognition would streamline and expedite the planning and approval processes, facilitating the realization of this transformative energy project.
As reported by fr.de.
