Performance Evaluation of Photovoltaic, Wind Turbine, and Concentrated Solar Power Systems in Morocco

This paper presents an analysis of wind and solar energy production in three different locations in Morocco: Midelt, Dakhla, and Laayoune. Predictive models from existing literature are utilized to estimate energy production for photovoltaic (PV), concentrated solar power (CSP), and wind systems, along with the estimation of annual energy generation and capacity factor. Meteorological data collected from the System Advisor Model (SAM) software is used for each site in the analysis. To validate the results, a comparison is made with SAM's estimates, a widely recognized tool for evaluating renewable energy systems. The findings indicate a high solar potential in Dakhla, Midelt, and Laayoune, with capacity factors of PV plants ranging from 22.56% to 23.90%. CSP technology exhibits significant energy generation potential in all three locations. In terms of wind energy, Dakhla and Laayoune demonstrate superior wind turbine performance compared to Midelt, making them favorable locations for wind energy generation. Among the three locations, Laayoune stands out with the highest capacity factors and annual energy generation, making it the most suitable location for wind turbine deployment. Based on these findings, it is recommended to consider the integration of both solar and wind systems in Dakhla and Laayoune, taking advantage of their high potential for both energy sources. Such hybrid systems can contribute to stable energy production and cost reduction. Moreover, the simplicity and reliability of the models used in this study make them suitable for estimating energy production in such hybrid systems.