Energy development operator in Morocco

With the support of the European Union, the CDER, Centre for Renewable Energy Development, is playing a crucial role in the energy sector reform in Morocco.

Julien Théron, Eurojar

As a privileged EU partner, Morocco is playing since many years a crucial role in the field of energy. In a report entitled “Prospective Morocco 2030”, Ahmed Lahlimi Alami, head of the High Commission of Planning (HCP), insists on the importance of the energy sector as vital factor in “achieving sustainable development and enhancing the country’s competitiveness.” The CDER strategy is in line with this prospect.

A visionary project
Created in 1982, back when sustainable development was not in vogue, the centre’s objectives were numerous. According to Said Mouline, General Director of CDER, the centre’s aims were to “promote the use, the commercialization and the manufacturing of renewable energy systems.” During its 30 years of existence, the CDER succeeded in developing its activities, including research studies, publications, awareness campaigns, training courses, conception and execution of projects.

Since its establishment, the CDER is conceiving and implementing its own activities. As a “development operator”, the centre was able to enhance its know-how. Mouline points out that when it comes to solar energy projects, the CDER “constitutes a reference frame that provides technical expertise and assistance for the realization of technical, economic and financial feasibility studies. The centre offers books of specifications for consultants/suppliers and gives its opinion on the technical offers. It also provides assistance for investors to support project implementation, commissioning of facilities, follow up of technical outcomes.”

Moreover, along with its development concept, the centre provides “sustainable financial support”. The establishment of FOGEER, Guarantee Fund for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, is part of an economic strategy that aims to foster sustainable funding structures and attract local and foreign investments, as well as setting up incentive schemes.

A new national energy policy
Morocco has adopted a new law that stipulates the transformation of the Centre for the Development of Renewable Energy (CDER) into an Agency for Development of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ADEREE). The budget and fields of activities of the center are thus extended, in order to better contribute to “the success of the new national energy policy”. ADEREE priorities were quickly defined, among which the execution of a cooperation project with the United Nations Development Program that aims at implementing a national energy efficiency program within the construction industry. Ten years from now, the project will be reducing the energy bill in Morocco by using 15 to 20% of renewable energies in this sector. And this is only a beginning. ADEREE has developed “an action plan based on the basis of programs that promote numerous renewable energy and energy efficiency systems.” Based on a local approach thanks to many strategic institutional partnerships, ADERRE new scale is expected to enhance international cooperation.

Euro-Mediterranean vision
In this context, the ADEREE should be able to benefit from the CDER track record. In fact, CDER has received support from the Italian Ministry of Environment. It has also concluded partnerships with many European private institutions (EPIA, ES-SO, AuditAC, EuroACE, Reegle, etc.). The center works in collaboration with almost all Mediterranean countries, notably through information exchanges made possible by regular meetings, but also by specific partnerships in the construction industry in Tunisia, Lebanon and Egypt.

Within the framework of its program entitled “Support to the energy sector reform in Morocco”, the EU will be funding an institutional twinning project that aims at strengthening the ADEREE capacity, which will allow the agency to interact and exchange information on a daily basis with a European twinning sister (about its functions and attributions) from 2010 till 2012.

CDER activities were usually in line with European or Euro-Mediterranean programs such as SMAP (program for the environment and sustainable development), the EPBD Building Platform (initiative for an intelligent energy) or even MED-ENEC (energy efficiency and renewable energies). The development of a joint cooperation within the framework of MED-ENEC looks “very promising”, according to Said Mouline, as it allows at the same time “to create a network of experts in the region, to share best practices in the construction industry, to set up a benchmark on the energy efficiency policies and experiences drawn up by neighboring countries, as well as to provide support for private and public key partners.”

National will, fruitful regional exchanges, active European support, promising vision and convenient structure… all those positive factors would certainly help achieve meaningful transformation of the CDER into ADEREE, which is a good step towards successful energy reform in Morocco.

See the website: MED-ENEC