Morocco Emerges as Renewable Energy Leader: 61 Projects Fueling 64% Target by 2030

Morocco is rapidly advancing its renewable energy sector, with Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, recently informing Parliament that 61 active renewable energy projects worth $550 million are currently underway. The nation is poised to achieve its 2023 target of 42% renewable energy generation and aims to reach 64% by 2030.

Resource Advantage & Strategic Vision
Blessed with abundant solar and wind resources – including approximately 3,000 annual sunshine hours (among the world's highest) – Morocco launched its National Energy Strategy in 2009. This strategy set goals for renewable energy to comprise 42% of total installed power capacity by 2020 and 52% by 2030, driven by ambitions for energy independence and climate resilience.

Enabling Investment & Growth
To attract investment, Morocco has phased out gasoline and fuel oil subsidies and established the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN). MASEN provides comprehensive support to developers, handling permitting, land acquisition, and financing. It also manages competitive tenders for designated zones and installed capacity, signing power purchase agreements with independent producers before selling electricity to the national grid. This framework propelled Morocco's wind and solar capacity from 0.3 GW in 2012 to 2.1 GW by 2020.

Flagship Project: Noor Solar Power Park
The Noor Solar Power Park in central Morocco stands as a national flagship. Spanning over 2,000 hectares with 582 MW capacity, its development occurred in phases:

• Phase 1: Commissioned 2016

• Phases 2 & 3 (CSP): Commissioned 2018

• Phase 4 (PV): Commissioned 2019

Strategic European Partnerships
Morocco's proximity to Europe and renewable progress have attracted significant international interest. The EU's 2019 "European Green Deal", targeting global carbon neutrality by 2050, gained urgency following the Ukraine crisis and subsequent energy shortages. Seeking alternative energy sources, European nations have intensified cooperation with North Africa, including Morocco.

In October 2022, the EU and Morocco signed a "Green Partnership" memorandum, pledging enhanced cooperation on energy, climate, green tech investment, renewable production, sustainable transport, and clean industry. Further solidifying ties, European Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi visited Morocco in March 2023, announcing an additional €620 million in EU funding to accelerate Morocco's green energy development and infrastructure strengthening.

Industry Recognition
Ernst & Young's recent report affirms Morocco's position, stating the country will "maintain its leading position in Africa’s green revolution" due to its abundant renewable resources and robust government backing.