Energy Efficiency
Africa’s first Super ESCO in Morocco granted $965,000 by AfDB
Amid growing demand, Morocco aims to meet its energy needs by combining large-scale energy efficiency strategies and renewable energy investments
Transitioning into the first Super Energy Service Company (ESCO) in Africa, Morocco’s Société d’Ingénierie Energétique (SIE) received a grant of US$965,000 from the African Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA). The funding was granted to support the company’s new direction and ensure a smooth transition to establish Africa’s first Super ESCO.
The African Development Bank is proud to support the first Super ESCO in Africa and looks forward to supporting further projects in the future
AfDB
Morocco is experiencing a massive growth in energy demand as more people get connected to the grid and a growing economy that’s increasing energy consumption. The country aims to meet its energy needs by combining large-scale energy efficiency strategies and renewable energy investments. Super ESCOs are vehicles for channelling funds into public sector energy efficiency investments such as hospitals, schools, and street lighting, laying the foundation for private investment later in the commercial and industrial sectors.
Funding to enable operationalization of Super ESCO
“This support from the African Development Bank will enable the operationalization of the new SIE as a Super ESCO, thus creating a model well aligned with the needs of the country’s energy efficiency sector,” said Ahmed Baroudi, SIE’s Chief Executive Officer.
As a Super ESCO, the SIE should be able to overcome many of the challenges in scaling up energy efficiency investments. It will also open market opportunities for local ESCOs, offer quality assurance support and build their reputation among end-users and investors.
The grant will provide SIE with operational tools to develop a pipeline of bankable energy efficiency investment projects, said Brice Mikponhoue, Officer in Charge at the North Africa Regional Development and Business Delivery Office of the African Development Bank.
“The implementation of Super ESCOs on the continent will gradually contribute to the expansion and strengthening of the energy efficiency financing ecosystem. The African Development Bank is proud to support the first Super ESCO in Africa and looks forward to supporting further projects in the future,” said Jalel Chabchoub, Chief Investment Officer and Energy Efficiency Specialist in the Department of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at the African Development Bank.
