Morocco, located on Europe’s doorstep, aspires to become a significant player in the continent’s clean energy mix. Morocco hopes to export much of its excess electricity to Europe, which is looking for new sources of clean energy to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, with the ambitious goal of generating 52% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Morocco’s abundant solar and wind resources hold significant promise for Europe’s clean energy ambitions, and the country is already making significant strides toward increasing renewable energy generation. However, there are concerns that Morocco should prioritise the energy needs of its domestic market before exporting to Europe.
According to Moundir Zniber, the founder of Moroccan renewable energy company Gaia Energy, Morocco’s vast renewable resources could provide a solution to Europe’s energy crisis. Given the country’s abundant solar and wind resources, Zniber believes Morocco represents the best opportunity to reduce Europe’s reliance on Russian gas. Morocco’s Noor-Ouarzazate Solar Complex, which is now the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant, is a clear example of the country’s renewable energy potential. Morocco could become a significant player in Europe’s clean energy mix with the development of such facilities and private Moroccan firms like Gaia Energy planning to export solar and wind-generated electricity to Europe as well as green hydrogen.
a new energy company in the United Kingdom Xlinks intends to build an undersea electricity cable from Morocco to the UK, with the goal of providing 8% of the UK’s electricity needs by 2030. The World Bank has also provided millions of dollars in funding for the sectors, recognising the benefits of boosting Moroccan economic growth, reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels, and creating new jobs in the renewable energy sector.
However, the World Bank estimates that Morocco’s 2030 renewable energy target will cost $52 billion, with the majority of that money coming from the private sector. While the Moroccan government is well aware of the potential benefits and is working to accelerate King Mohammed VI’s renewable vision, there are both internal and external obstacles to overcome. To attract more private investment, Morocco must streamline bureaucracy and improve access to land permits, and it must prioritise meeting its own energy needs over exporting excess electricity to Europe.
Leila Benali, Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, says the country’s energy strategy is based on increasing renewables, improving efficiency, and integrating into international energy markets. She emphasises that the priority is for Moroccans to have access to the “lowest-cost” green energy, and that there is a need to seize the historic opportunity to integrate with Europe’s energy market. Moez Cherif of the World Bank, on the other hand, believes that Morocco should increase both renewable energy exports and domestic consumption.
To summarise, Morocco’s vast renewable energy resources have the potential to significantly reduce Europe’s reliance on fossil fuels, and the country has already made significant progress in increasing renewable energy generation. To meet its ambitious renewable energy targets, Morocco must prioritise meeting its own energy needs before exporting excess electricity to Europe, streamline bureaucracy to attract more private investment, and integrate with Europe’s energy market. If Morocco achieves these objectives, it could become a significant player in Europe’s clean energy mix, reducing the continent’s carbon footprint, creating new jobs in the renewable energy sector, and boosting Moroccan economic growth.
