Morocco is increasingly using renewable energy to support agriculture and protect food and water security, according to a report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The report highlights Morocco’s “Green Generation” strategy, which runs from 2020 to 2030 and links the expansion of renewable energy with agricultural resilience. The plan aims to develop about 24 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity while modernizing farming and water management systems.
Nearly 40% of Morocco’s workforce is employed in agriculture, making the sector particularly vulnerable to drought and climate stress. The report notes that renewable-powered desalination plants and irrigation systems are becoming central to maintaining food production and rural livelihoods.
These efforts are supported by Morocco’s national water plan, which extends to 2050 and carries an estimated budget of $45 billion. The plan is designed to reinforce water security through desalination, water reuse and infrastructure upgrades, increasingly powered by clean energy.
The IISS report places Morocco within a broader Middle East and North Africa context, where governments are recognizing the strategic importance of renewable energy. While the region still lags behind global averages in clean energy infrastructure, rapid investment could quadruple renewable capacity by 2030, the report says.
Political instability, conflict and corruption remain major obstacles in several countries, limiting their ability to attract investment and adapt to climate pressures.
Morocco, a net energy importer with limited reliance on hydrocarbons, has taken a more proactive approach, the report notes. In addition to powering agriculture, the country is exploring green hydrogen production linked to fertilizer manufacturing and expanding pumped-storage hydropower to strengthen energy resilience.
Elsewhere in the region, progress has been slower. In Iraq, extreme summer heat places heavy strain on electricity networks, but governance challenges and slow decision-making continue to hamper renewable energy development.
The report also warns that the global push for renewable infrastructure is increasing pressure on critical minerals such as copper and lithium, creating new supply-chain vulnerabilities.
According to the IISS, renewable energy competition in the region is being driven primarily by geopolitical and economic considerations rather than environmental concerns alone.
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