Morocco among top 5 countries to become global wind energy hubs

In a report recently published on their website, the Global Wind Energy Council ranked Morocco among the top 5 countries set to be global hubs of floating offshore wind power.

According to GWEC, the leading wind energy tracking institution, Morocco is the most predisposed in Africa and the MENA region to host a thriving floating offshore industry.

Other emerging markets include France, South Korea, Japan, and the UK, while the five leading ones, along with Morocco, are Ireland, the Philippines, Italy, and the American west coast.

Floating offshore wind power is the installment of wind turbines on floating structures in deep and seabed locations where wind power is naturally stronger (because of the absence of obstacles). It is an industry that has been growing for the past 30 years. Now, it is mature enough to be deployed globally, says the GWEC.

The report assessed 115 countries based on different criteria: technical capacities, climatic and geographical conditions, and ambitious public policies regarding renewable energies, among others. It underlines Morocco’s significant resources and the government’s commitment to renewable growth.

The only downside on the table, the GWEC points out, is the electricity network in Southern Morocco, which wouldn’t be able to manage large-scale withdrawals from future offshore wind farms.

Floating offshore wind power has been encouraged by the International Energy Agency as an effective solution to limit global warming to 1.5°C. It estimates that all offshore wind projects would have to be multiplied by 13 by 2030 globally (to reach a capacity of 80GW).

Morocco’s future floating offshore industry would be one more step in the kingdom’s long commitment to renewable energies, starting with its first environmental plan in 2009 (42% of energy needs from renewables, achieved in 2020). Morocco’s new target is 52% by 2030!