Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Morocco has launched the largest wind power facility in Africa.

Officials said the wind farm in the southwestern town of Tarfaya encompasses nearly 100 square kilometers.

The officials said the $690 million complex would contain 131 turbines, scheduled to enter full operations in October 2014.

“This makes Morocco a world leader in wind power,” an official said.

Construction of Tarfaya began in early 2013 and the first wind power was generated in earlier this month. So far, 54 turbines, each 80 meters high, were erected and connected to the electricity grid.

Morocco already operates much smaller wind facilities. A plant at Akhfennir was producing 100 megawatts from 60 turbines and Foum El Oued hosted a 50 megawatt facility.

The North African kingdom has also been developing a solar power sector. In 2013, Morocco launched construction of a 160-megawatt solar power plant near Ouarzazate, a facility expected to be completed in 2015.

Officials said Rabat has assessed that renewable energy would fulfill 42
percent of the kingdom’s energy requirements by 2020. In all, wind and solar
power were expected to generate 4,000 megawatts.

  131 turbines, Morocco becomes a wind power ‘world leader’ with new facility, Tarfaya wind farm