The Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development in 2020 granted licenses for several renewable projects, totaling approximately 1,000 megawatts (MW) – a record breaker as the nation moves towards cleaner energy sources.
This marked the largest capacity ever approved in a single year, according to Minister Leila Benali.
Speaking at a symposium organized by the House of Representatives, Benali highlighted the sector’s achievements and Morocco’s ambitions to increase the share of renewable energy in the country’s installed electricity capacity to over 52% by 2030.
To ensure good governance, the Ministry engaged in extensive consultations with stakeholders, including the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water, the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy, relevant ministries, private investors, and social players.
These consultations resulted in the development of an electricity equipment plan aimed at accelerating the implementation of renewable energy projects.
Benali revealed that projects with a capacity of around 1.3 gigawatts (GW) are scheduled between 2023 and 2027, a substantial increase compared to the previous rate of 0.16 GW per year from 2009 to 2022.
This signifies a threefold increase in investment, reaching approximately 14 billion dirhams (MMDH) annually.
Benali stressed the Ministry’s focus on optimizing the integration of renewable energies by promoting investment in the power grid.
A draft master plan for reinforcing and expanding the national power transmission network for the period 2023-2027 is currently under discussion. The plan requires a total funding of around 23 billion dirhams, significantly higher than the 1 billion dirhams per year allocated from 2009 to 2022.
Addressing the importance of renewable energies in reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, Abdellatif Bardach, Chairman of the National Electricity Regulatory Authority (ANRE), emphasized the need to prioritize decarbonization.
Bardach highlighted to state agency MAP, ANRE’s proactive efforts in chairing the Green Hydrogen Working Group within the Association of Mediterranean Energy Regulators (MEDRIC) to stimulate the demand and production of green hydrogen. This initiative aims to position Morocco in the decarbonized economy of the future.
Tarik Hamane, Deputy Director General of the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN), noted that more than 4,100 MW of electricity is currently generated from wind, solar, and hydraulic energy projects. MASEN plans to develop an additional 3,648 MW from renewable sources, including 2,078 MW from solar energy and 1,570 MW from wind power, to meet the energy needs outlined in ONEE’s plan for 2023-2027.
The symposium provided an opportunity for key players in the electricity sector to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Morocco. With the energy sector playing a vital role in economic and social development, the focus remains on driving progress while prioritizing environmental protection, sustainable development, and renewable energy as essential components of the national energy strategy.
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