ON THE SITUATION OF PV WATER

PUMPING IN MOROCCO

A. BARHDADI
Ecole Normale Suprieure of Rabat
Laboratoire de Physique des Semiconducteurs et de lEnergie Solaire (P.S.E.S.)
P. O. Box: 5118, Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco
Phone: +212 (0) 37 75 12 29 / 37 75 22 61
Mobile: +212 (0) 64 93 68 15
Fax: +212 (0) 37 75 00 47
E-mail: abdelbar@fsr.ac.ma
http://www.fsr.ac.ma/ACMS-II/cv-barhdadi.html

INTRODUCTION
Providing a reliable water supply for both human consumption
and agricultural needs in rural areas is one of the major problems
facing North African Mediterranean countries. Typically water is
extracted manually from deep wells located some way out of the
village, occupying women and children for a large part of the working
day. Furthermore this method of water extraction cannot serve much
needed irrigation requirements for agriculture in the region.

Photovoltaics frequently offer the most cost-effective solution for

powering water pumps. North African Mediterranean countries, such
as Morocco are characterised as having high insolation and vast rural
areas, with few villages connected to the national electricity grid.

The Moroccan government is engaged in a large-scale

programme to improve drinking water supply to rural villages. As a
very small proportion of the rural population has access to the
electricity grid, the most cost effective solution is to power water
pumps using renewable energy sources.

KINGDOM OF MOROCCO: GENERAL DATA

Land Area

710850 Km

Population

~ 30 million

Urban Population

53 %

Population Growth

2,1 %

Energy Dependence

93 %

Insolation

5,1 kWh/m/day

Average Sunshine Hours :

3000 hours/year

MAIN PV PUMPING SYSTEMS USED

GRUNDFOS Water Pumping System

(Denmark)

SOLAREX Water Pumping System

(USA)

TOTAL ENERGIE Water Pumping System

(France)

ISOFOTON Water Pumping System

(Spain)

PV PUMPING SYSTEMS INSTALLED IN

MOROCCO

Already there are over 300 PV powered water pumps in Morocco, with
capacities ranging from 600Wp to 2kWp, producing daily water outputs of 15 to
150m3.

80 PV water pumping systems have been purchased and offered by CIDA

(Canadian International Development Agency) for rural water supply. Most of
the others have been installed by DGCL (Direction Gnrale des Collectivits
Locales) from Ministry of Interior.

Professionals and Specialists estimate that about 6 MWp of PV was

currently installed in Morocco, with about 0.5 MWp of that for water pumping.

SOME LOCAL AND REGIONAL DATA

Moroccan Site or Region

Taroudant

Information collected
5 water pumping systems
Installed in a agricultural research station
installations funded by USAID (U.S. Agency for
International Development)
SOLAREX products

Oum Eroumane

1 water pumping system

1150 inhabitants
3
40 m /day (in excess of average daily water
requirements estimated to be around 35 m3/day.
3760 Wp PV array
3,7 kW inverter
57,6 m depth of water
ISOFOTON product

Draa valley

16 Water Pumping Systems

Number of users ~ 20 000 inhabitants
ISOFOTAN products

MFiss region
(Between Ergs Chebi and Znagui)

1 water pumping system

Number of users ~ 1000 inhabitants
TOTAL ENERGIE product

Ighef N'ighir
Commune of Sidi Ali
Province of ERRACHIDIA

1 Water pumping system

25 m3/day
installed in 1995
3000 users
TOTAL ENERGIE product

Stilla
Commune of Sidi Ali
Province of ERRACHIDIA

1 Water pumping system

15 m3/day
installed in 1999
1500 users
TOTAL ENERGIE product

Oued Ennam
Commune of M'Hamid
Province of OURZAZATE

1 Water pumping system

25 m3/day
installed in 1997
4000 users
TOTAL ENERGIE product

Zagora

1 Water pumping system

ISOFOTON Product
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PHOTOGRAPHS OF SOME SUCCESSFUL

WATER PUMPING INSTALLATIONS IN
MOROCCO
The following pictures show how are some water pumping
installations: their aesthetic aspect and their environmental impact

Water pumping system of Ighef N'ighir

Commune de Sidi Ali
Province d'ERRACHIDIA
25 m3/day
installed in 1995 by Total Energie
3000 users
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Water pumping system of oued Ennam

commune de M'Hamid
province de OURZAZATE
25 m3/day
installed in 1997 by Total Energie
4000 users

Water pumping system of Stilla

Commune de Sidi Ali
Province d'ERRACHIDIA
15 m3/day
installed in 1999 by Total Energie
1500 users

PHOTOGRAPH 2

PHOTOGRAPH 3

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PHOTOGRAPH 4

PHOTOGRAPH 5

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PHOTOGRAPH 6

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FINANCING
MAIN MOROCCAN ORGANISATIONS
ONE (Office National dElectricit)
DGCL (Direction Gnrale des Collectivits Locales)
DGH (Direction Gnrale dHydraulique)
CDER (Centre de Developpement des Energies Renouvelables)
NGO (Non Governmental Organisations) involved,

MAIN INTERNATIONAL AND FOREIGN ORGANISATIONS

PVMTI (PhotoVoltaic Market Transformation Initiative) Programme

IFC (International Finance Corporation), a World Bank unit
GEF (Global Environment Facility)
E U (European Union)
ACDI (Canadian International Development Agency)
AOI (Atlantide Organisation International)
USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development)
NAPC (North African Piping Corporation)

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PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS -1-

PAGER PROGRAMME
The Kingdom of Morocco set up a vast National Programme for Collective
Drinking Water Supply in Rural Areas. This programme is known as PAGER
(Programme d'approvisionnement groupe en eau potable des populations
rurales). It concerns nearly 30,000 towns and villages, i.e. about 11 million
people. The DGH (Direction Gnrale de l'Hydraulique) which administers the
PAGER is receptive to any technology, including PV pumping systems, which
would lower the cost of water to the users.

IFC/GEF PVMTI PROJECT

The project aims to demonstrate the viability of the PV market and to thereby
catalyse growth in sales of various kind of PV systems, including DC and AC
Solar Home Systems, PV powered water pumps and PV powered fridges, into
rural areas of Morocco. Total project cost is estimated at US $ 6,500,000, with a
proposed IFC/GEF PVMTI guarantee facility and grant investment of US $
1,000,000. The project will be implemented in rural areas throughout Morocco.

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PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS -2MI-NAPC PROGRAMME

The aim of this programme is to set up the infrastructure necessary to provide
both PV electricity and PV water supply to some 47,000 homes in rural villages
surrounding Marrakech. The cost of this programme is US $ 40 Million equally
financed by the state through MI (ministry of Interior) and NAPC (North
African Piping Corporation).

MOROCCO-JAPAN COOPERATION PROJECT

In this programme, Japan grant a donation to Moroccan associations
undertaking social projects in rural areas. The donation will go to financing a
well solar-pumping system to supply drinking water and fitting an electric
group for 650 inhabitants of a village near Ouarzazate. A similar pumping
system will also be installed for the irrigation of 400 ha of olive trees for the
benefit of 150 families.

AFRISOL PV PRODUCTION PLAN

Afrisol plan to install in 2-3 years a production unity of PV modules by using
the most modern processes. The future free zone of Tangier beside the airport
and the new Atlantic port will be the ideal strategic site (between Africa and
Europe) for this installation.

TOTAL ENERGIE PROJECT

This project envisage the realisation of several PV pumping systems for rural
drinking water with complete guarantee of operation during 10 years.

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OTHER VARIOUS DATA

COST ESTIMATION
In Morocco, the use of PV is considered to be the most cost-effective of all water
pumping option. The overall system costs are estimated to be about US $ 10/Wp,
significantly cheaper than extending the electricity grid.

TESTING AND STANDARDS

The National Centre for Renewable Energy (CDER - Centre de Dveloppement
des Energies Renouvelables), supported by the German Government (GTZ
Special Energy programme) has a laboratory equipped to test PV components
and has prepared national standards and specifications.

IMPORT DUTIES
Kingdom of Morocco operates a favourable policy towards renewable energy
technologies. For example, foreign suppliers of PV panels and modules can be
exonerated from import taxes. The exoneration include components not
specifically related to PV such as pumps and wiring etc. Also, the government
offers several incentives for foreign investment.

INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS ON PV PUMPING

INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON PV WATER SUPPLY ISSUES
16 - 18 / 11 1998, Iberotel Tikida, Marrakech, Morocco

The workshop aims at presenting both the current status of solar water supply
and distribution and at highlighting the existing improvement potential.

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MAIN PROFESSIONAL PV FIRMS AND

PROVIDERS IN MOROCCO

AFRISOL (the market leader in the Moroccan PV industry)

MA-20000 Casablanca, Morocco
Tel: +212 22 485 812
Fax: +212 22 485 811
E mail: afrisol@macrocnet.net.ma
Rural electrification, water pumping, telecommunications, street lighting and coast guard
CASABLOC
16 rue Hadj Amar Riffi Casablanca 1, Morocco
Tel: +212 22 318 140
Fax: +212 22 318 041
PV Systems
GETRADIS ENERGIES RENOUVELABLES
50 Avenue de Souss, Rabat Souissi, 10000 Rabat, Morocco
Tel: +212 37 753 814
Fax: +212 37 756 864
Importer, distributor, installer of photovoltaic solar heating, pumps and applications
NOOR WEB
12, Boulevard Moulay Abdallah, 40000, Marrakech, Morocco
Tel: +212 44 310 427 or 310572
Fax: +212 44 310 499
E mail: noorweb@cybernet.net.ma
PV Systems design and installation, charge controllers, big scale SHS Program operator,
installation, engineering, project development
PHOTOTHERM ELECTRONIQUE
54 Avenue Moulay R'chid, Gueliz, Marrakech, Morocco
Tel: +212 44 446 887
Fax: +212 44 434 007
Distributor/installer of solar thermal and PV systems, electronic equipment manufacturer
SEHI
34-47 Rue Planquette, Belvedere, Casablanca, Morocco
Tel: +212 22 244 659
Fax: +212 44 434 007
PV Systems, specializing in pumping systems

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SETEL-SIEMENS VE-E
Immeuble Siemens, Route de Rabat, Ain Sebaa, Casablanca, Morocco
Tel: +212 22 669 200
Fax: +212 22 334 151
Distributor of PV products
SICOTEL
Complexe du Hebous Tour C, Av.des Far Casablanca, Morocco
Tel: +212 22 212 270
PV Systems, specializing in lighting and pumping
SPOLYTEN
Oujda, Morocco
Tel: +212 66 691 947
Fax: +212 66 691 948
PV systems
UMASOLAR SA
Tour Atlas, Place Zellaga, Casablanca, Morocco
Tel: +212 22 305260
solar water heaters, photovoltaic modules (PV modules), solar pool heating systems, microhydro
powered electric generators, water pumping products.
TOTAL ENERGIE MAROC
6, rue de Sefrou, Appt 6, Rabat 10000
Photovoltaic modules (PV modules), solar water pumping systems,
SOLICAP
7, avenue Oqba, Agdal, Rabat 10000
Tel: +212 37 682 631
Fax: +212 37 682 632
SUNLIGHT POWER
2, avenue de Marrakech, Rabat 10000
Fax: +212 37 661 037
TOTAL ENERGIE MAROC
54, avenue moulay RChid, Guliz, Marrakech 40000
Tl: +212 44 335 745
Fax: +212 44 335 733
TROPICAL POWER
301, Hay Menzeh, Rabat
Tl: +212 37 790 856
Fax: +212 37 290 237
PV systems, pumping

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