Morocco Aspires To Become A ‘Destination’ For Renewable Energy

Add substantial wind resources inland and its claimed that Morocco will fulfill its demands, and become a regional exporter to North Africa and Europe. It has a total installed generating capacity of about 11,000 MW, 4,030 MW of which is renewables. An additional 4,516 MW of renewables is already planned.

The North African country hopes that it will inspire many countries to switch from fossil fuels to renewables. Leila Benali, the minister of energy transition and sustainable development, told that she hope for Morocco to be “a destination for renewable energy.”

Currently, there are two electricity interconnections with Europe and a third is planned. The capacity of the interconnections is 1,400 MW and power flows both ways, depending on generating and market conditions in Europe and Morocco.

Morocco’s Noor Ouarzazate complex is slated to be one of the largest solar power generating facilities in the world, covering more than 6,000 acres of desert. At present, the complex consists of three separate but co-located power stations, known as Noor I (160 MW), Noor II (200 MW), and Noor III (150 MW). A fourth station, Noor IV (72 MW), is planned. Other big solar stations elsewhere can be expected.