Comments on: Moroccan Poor Leapfrog Fossil Fuels – Switch on the Sun

By: Susan Kraemer

Susan Kraemer — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:44:57 +0000

Xoussef, I found such a tangled mess of vagueness, that I left it at the only “for sure” funding I found – The Agence Française de Développement – but nearly wrote “partial” as you are right, that it does seem possible that there was other funding as well. Thanks for the research help. It is great to have such informed readers here
.

By: Susan Kraemer

Susan Kraemer — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:40:36 +0000

it’s full steam ahead, it’s Kyoto… sorry!

By: Susan Kraemer

Susan Kraemer — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:39:03 +0000

Thanks, Loire, I like you too! In fact, I envy you. In the US, we have half of congress actively sabotaging our attempts to get to the clean energy powered economy, while in the MENA region, its full steam ahead, due to your unobstructed policies and proximity to the EU and its Kyoto Accord, as I noted here:

http://cleantechnica.com/2011/11/07/exclusive-pictures-from-green-prophet-egypts-kuraymat-solar-in-operation/

By: Xoussef

Xoussef — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:38:48 +0000

Susan, I couldn’t get a clear picture of who funded the project either. It’s part of a long range rural electrification programme spanning over a decade and ONE seems to have secured funding from every possible source, including Japanese development agency, African development bank, German cooperation agencies, Kuwaiti government… It could be a power station a dam, a link to the national grid or solar panels. It’s difficult to pinpoint who funded what exactly.
Temasol itself has been working for ONE since 1999 on rural electrification and this seems to be another push to get electricity to the least accessible locations with others to come.

By: Loire

Loire — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:29:31 +0000

No harm Susan. We still like you and your dedication to covering alternitive energy.

Best regards,

Moroccan reader

By: Susan Kraemer

Susan Kraemer — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:22:57 +0000

Sorry about that. But I have also covered the big deal stories – the 500 MW solar project you refer to, one of the biggest worldwide:
http://www.greenprophet.com/2011/11/desertec-begins-500-mw-moroccan-solar-in-2012/

as well as the fact that Morocco plans to get 42% of its energy from solar by 2020, by far the most ambitious solar plan in the world:

http://cleantechnica.com/2010/04/04/morocco-to-solar-power-nearly-half-its-kingdom/
and here:
http://www.greenprophet.com/2011/08/morocco-first-42-percent-solar/

By: Loire

Loire — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 04:48:21 +0000

It is so evident, that this article was written with a very little or no research done about Morocco’s economic strategy and its advanced energy plan, making this micro project sounds like a big deal while not even knowing that one of the largest and more advanced solar plants in the World has just been launched in Morocco which within five years will export electricity to Europe.

Not to mention the errors in the article that the previous reader mentioned.

To sum up: poorly written article, lacking real facts and substance.

By: Susan Kraemer

Susan Kraemer — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 01:04:21 +0000

Upon googling it I think you may have it right – will check further and if correct include the Islamic development bank and Agence française de Développement as the funding, I had been unable to find who was funding it – its harder for me googling in french. Thank you Xoussef!

By: Susan Kraemer

Susan Kraemer — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:57:37 +0000

Oh, thanks! Will revise real meaning of overseas territories. I know there is a cultural connection though between France and Morocco, am I right?

By: Xoussef

Xoussef — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:48:19 +0000

Oh dear! You make it sound like that company was doing all that out of generosity and kind heartedness! Not to belittle their efforts in adapting the technology and business model, but they are getting paid in full for it (and get to sell the concept elsewhere too). If anyone deserves commendations for this programme it’s ONE that conceived of it, and the institutions that lent money for the programme like the Islamic development bank and Agence française de Développement (among others).

Also, Morocco is not, and has never been, an overseas territory of France. I think you misinterpreted “overseas territories” (real meaning here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_departments_and_territories_of_France) to mean having been a protectorate which was over fifty years ago and when you think about it is not particularly relevant. (and we are pretty touchy about the subject, so indignant Moroccan comments guaranteed)

🙂