Promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency in the provinces of Midelt and Tata (EDMITA)

Project description

Title: Sustainable Energy in the Provinces of Midelt and Tata (EDMITA)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Morocco
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Energy, Mining and Sustainable Development (MEMDD)
Overall term: 2016 to 2020

Context

The provinces of Midelt in the Middle Atlas Mountains and Tata in the south of Morocco have exceptionally high levels of sunshine and offer considerable potential for renewable energy sources. The Moroccan solar project ‘Noor’ comprises plans for the installation of solar power plants there with a total capacity of 2,000 megawatts (MW).

Situated at an altitude of between 1,200 and 3,600 metres above sea level, the province of Midelt is accustomed to frequent snowfall in the winter. During these cold spells, the population mainly uses firewood as an affordable fuel for heating. This wood primarily comes from Atlas forests. Tree stocks are increasingly threatened as a result of the high demand for firewood.

In contrast, the province of Tata is prone to very dry and hot periods. Temperatures often exceed 45 °C in summer. The province has to contend with severe desertification and the threat that this poses to the palm plantations. Both Midelt and Tata are heavily dependent on agriculture, which will have to deal with reduced precipitation as a consequence of climate change. Many young people migrate to the large conurbations on the coasts of Morocco.

Objective

The capacities of the provinces of Midelt and Tata in the area of renewable energy and energy efficiency have been strengthened and allow representatives from administration, civil society and the private sector to benefit from these potentials. 

Approach

The ‘Sustainable Energy in the Provinces of Tata and Midelt’ project (EDMITA) aims to improve capacities in the area of renewable energy among the population, in administration and in the private sector. The regions are to benefit economically from the expansion of solar and wind energy and from the improvement of energy efficiency. Experience and knowledge relating to feasibility, planning, implementation and evaluation are being gathered and disseminated in both provinces on the basis of specific measures. The benefits of renewable energy sources and improved energy efficiency are being demonstrated using 20 installations (such as solar pumps for construction, more efficient stoves in schools, new public lighting, energy-efficient refurbishment of classrooms). In this way, EDMITA aims to improve people’s living conditions – particularly for the poor – and to establish new local value-added chains to foster the development of small businesses in the energy sector. The project supports reforestation so that nature in the mountain range can recover.

In addition, the project promotes the exchange of experience among the four pilot municipalities of Tata, Fam El Hisn, Er-Rich and Midelt. Trained energy teams in communities and newly established energy management systems support the development of new strategies for the use of renewable energy and for achieving savings in energy consumption. 

To increase public interest in this issue and raise environmental awareness, the project supports the establishment of energy information centres and platforms. EDMITA has introduced a new training course for solar installation technicians (photovoltaics) at the vocational colleges in Tata and Midelt. Components on soft skills are to be added to these training programmes to help newly trained technicians to enter the labour market. 

The project is cooperating with GFA Consulting Group GmbH in the provinces. 

Results

  • Energy teams have been set up and trained in the four pilot municipalities, and these teams have identified specific fields of action. In particular, these include the improvement of energy efficiency in public street lighting.
  • A new training course for photovoltaic installation technicians has been developed at the vocational colleges in Tata and Midelt together with the state vocational training institution (Office de la formation professionnelle et de la promotion du travail, OFPPT). 
  • 20 pilot projects are demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of the new technologies. 
  • More efficient stoves are being installed and energy-efficient refurbishment of classrooms carried out at various primary schools in Midelt with the aim of achieving adequate temperatures for lessons. 

Additional information