Morocco to add 6GW of new renewable energy capacity by 2030

Morocco has set an ambitious target to add 6,000 megawatts (MW) of new renewable energy capacity by 2030 and achieve its target to have 52 percent generation capacity come from renewables by the end of the decade, according to Tarik Bourquouquou, Masen’s International Business Development Manager. Masen is the group responsible for managing renewable energy in Morocco.

Morocco has so far invested more than $5.65 billion (MAD 52 billion) in renewable energy since 2011. The country is one of the leading renewable energy producers in Africa. Morocco’s 580MW Ouarzazate Noor solar complex in its southern provinces supplies over 2 million Moroccans with renewable energy.

“For future projects in order to reach the objective, we will have about 6,000 MW in addition to what we sell represented in different technologies….solar, wind, hydro and mix between solar and CSP,” said Tarik Bourquouquou, Masen’s International Business Development Manager.

Morocco has a solar projects pipeline totalling 3,400 MW including 800 MW NOOR Midelt 1, 800 MW Noor Midelt II, 800 MW Noor Tafilalet, 800 MW Noor PV II and 200 MW Noor ATLAS. And a wind energy projects pipeline totaling 1,320 MW include 850 MW Projet Éolien Intégré, 150 MW Projet Éolien Intégré -Taza let II, 120 MW Kouda Al Baida repowering and 200 MW Aftissat II, according to a presentation by Masen at the virtual CEBC Annual Summit 2021 last week.

There is also a further 620 MW of projects being developed under the Corporate PPAs (power purchase agreements).

Morocco has an installed power generation capacity of over 10,000 MW and currently has about 4,000 MW of renewables in operation comprising 700 MW solar, 1,770 MW hydro and 1,430 MW wind. 

The North African country is in the process of putting together a scheme to enter into corporate PPAs with European companies to allow the country to export renewable energy to European companies. 

Recent studies say Morocco could produce 96% of its electricity using renewable energy by 2050 if the country implements a strategy to accelerate the energy transition.