Market assessment of photovoltaic power systems for agricultural applications in Morocco

Technical Report · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5689644

Steingass, H; Asmon, I

A month-long study in Morocco was aimed at assessing the market potential for stand-alone photovoltaic systems in agriculture and rural service applications. The types of applications considered are those requiring less than 15 kw of power. The applications include irrigation, cattle watering, refrigeration, crop processing, potable water and educational TV. Telecommunications and transportation signalling applications were also considered in the course of the study. Power and energy use profiles are described for many applications as well assessments of business environment, government and private sector attitudes towards photovoltaics, and financing. The Moroccan market presents both advantages and disadvantages for American PV manufacturers. The principle advantages are a limited grid, interest in and present use of PV in communications applications, attractive investment incentives and a stated policy favoring American investment. Major disadvantages include lack of government incentives for PV use, general unfamiliarity with PV technology, high first cost of PV, a well-established market network for diesel generators, and difficulty with financing. Given these parameters the market for PV in Morocco during the period of 1981 to 1986, will be relatively small, about 340 kwp. Sectors where the market for PV is likely to be more favorable than for agriculture include: telecommunications, transport signalling and some rural services. The primary market appears to be in the public (i.e., government) rather than private sector, due to financial constraints and the high price of PV relative to conventional power sector.

• Research Organization: DHR, Inc., Washington, DC (USA); ARD, Inc., Burlington, VT (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AI01-76ET20485
• OSTI ID: 5689644
• Report Number(s): DOE/NASA/0180-2; NASA-CR-165477; ON: DE82004313
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140600* -- Solar Energy-- Photovoltaic Power Systems
AFRICA
AGRICULTURE
ATTITUDES
BUSINESS
COST
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DIESEL ENGINES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENGINES
EQUIPMENT
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
FINANCING
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HEAT ENGINES
INDUSTRY
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
INVESTMENT
IRRIGATION
MARKETING RESEARCH
MOROCCO
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
PLANNING
POWER RANGE 10-100 KW
POWER RANGE 100-1000 KW
POWER SUPPLIES
PUMPS
RURAL AREAS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR WATER PUMPS
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR
WATER PUMPS