ISSCC member city: Morocco is Making Progress in Sustainable Power Supply

Rabat, the capital of Morocco, is an initiative member of the ISSCC. Morocco, a net exporter of electricity since 2019, has achieved not only a quantitative change but also a qualitative improvement, i.e. a significant increase in the share of sustainable electricity, with renewable electricity production being the most promising sector in the country. Morocco's National Energy Strategy 2009-2030 is determined to strengthen its energy transition and renewable energy development in an effort to become a global leader in the sustainable energy sector. Morocco has become a net exporter of electricity since 2019, achieving not only a quantitative change but also a qualitative improvement, i.e. a significant increase in the share of sustainable electricity, with renewable electricity production being the country's most promising sector. In recent years, Sino-Moroccan relations have continued to warm up and economic and trade cooperation has gained momentum. during the visit of King Mohammed VI of Morocco to China in May 2016, China and Morocco signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the energy sector, making Sino-Moroccan renewable energy power cooperation more pragmatic. However, it is worth noting that the risky challenges of geopolitical competition between major countries may hinder deeper Sino-Moroccan power cooperation.

Unlike other North African countries (e.g. Algeria, Libya, Egypt), Morocco has very limited proven hydrocarbon reserves. For decades, Morocco has relied heavily on oil and gas imports to meet the growing demand for electricity for the country's development. Aware of the risks to energy security and its impact on economic development, Morocco has implemented a twofold strategy: a major effort to develop untapped renewable energy sources and a reduction in energy consumption. The former has led to a dramatic change in Morocco's electricity mix, with renewable electricity production becoming the country's most promising sector.

1. Significant increase in electricity production capacity

In recent years, Morocco's power stations and generation capacity have been increasing rapidly. in 2019, Morocco transformed itself from an electricity importer to a net exporter, exporting approximately 120.77 × 103 million kilowatt-hours (kWh). This is due to the rapid increase in power generation projects in Morocco, such as the completion of the Saint Lucy photovoltaic plant (installed capacity of 10,000 kilowatts (kW)) in 2016, the start of operations of the Noor Boujdour photovoltaic park (installed capacity of 19,500 kW (kW)) in 2018 and the operation of the Safi thermal power plant in December 2018, which generates 25% of the country's electricity demand. The world's largest concentrated solar power (CSP) project in Ouarzazate, a solar complex including four power plants (Noor), was also launched, generating electricity to serve more than one million people.

Electricity transmission technology is being upgraded. With the electrification of Morocco, the government is strengthening the grid infrastructure, increasing the transport capacity of the national grid for interconnections and distribution, and reducing technical energy losses on transmission lines. The Power Transmission and Distribution Network Development Project (PDRTRE), established in 2009, has achieved significant results, reducing technical energy losses on transmission lines by approximately 1.2% in 2021 (4.7% in 2020). The Transmission Network Development And Rural Electrification Programme (Pdrte-Er) was established in 2019 and is being implemented in five phases from 2020-2024, with one of the main objectives being to strengthen the capacity of the national transmission network. 0.3% reduction in electricity consumption (savings of approximately 376 x 105 kilowatt-hours (kWh)) between 2019 and a continued reduction in 2020 (approximately 1.9%).

2. A firm commitment to sustainable electricity development

To date, Morocco has undertaken 47 renewable energy projects with a total investment of approximately US$5.8 billion. By 2021, the total installed renewable energy capacity in operation in Morocco is close to 4 million kilowatts (kW), of which hydropower accounts for the largest share at 1.77 million kW, followed by wind at 1.43 million kW and solar at 0.75 million kW. According to data from the state-owned electricity company ONEE, the electricity production mix in Morocco in 2021 will be 37.08% renewable energy generation. Although low overall, this has tripled compared to a decade ago (10.79% in 2011). This share is expected to increase to 52% by 2030. For this reason, Morocco has made a major effort to build a renewable energy power system.

Recognised as a regional pioneer in the energy transition, Morocco has positioned itself as a self-sufficient electricity producer and will continue to strengthen its renewable energy power system. Based on its renewable energy potential, it is foreseen that the Moroccan wind and solar power market will have significant scope for further development, with wind and solar power exports expected to reach 12 million kilowatts (kW) by 2027. Morocco has excellent wind resources along its coastline and inland near the Atlas Mountains. The country's annual wind power potential is predicted to be around 25 x 106 kilowatts (kW). The wind potential areas are Essaouira, Tangier and Tetouan, where the annual average wind speed is between 9.5 and 11 m/s, and Tarfaya Laayoune, Dakhla and Taza, where the annual average wind speed is between 7.5 and 9.5 m/s. The wind farm in the south, Tarfaya, with a total installed capacity of 301,000 kilowatts (kW), is the largest wind farm in Africa. In the north, the Tangier wind power station has an installed capacity of 140,000 kW. In the east, the Taza wind power station has an installed capacity of 150,000 kW.

In 2021, Morocco launched the Moroccan Integrated Wind Program, a ten-year project with a total investment of 31.5 billion dirhams (approximately 3 billion euros), to promote a total of 1.72 million kW of wind power, making Morocco one of the This makes Morocco one of the most advanced and active countries in the Mediterranean and Africa in terms of renewable energy. Wind farms TAZA, Law 13-09 SAFI, Repowering Koudia, Boujdour, Tiskrad and Jbel Lahdid are currently under construction.

In terms of solar energy, due to its location on the edge of the Sahara Desert, with 3,000-3600 hours of sunshine per year, the potential for electricity generation is as high as 2,600 kilowatt hours per square metre per year (kWh/M3/Yr), twice that of European countries. In 2009, Morocco established the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy ("MASEN"), which is responsible for the national solar energy project. The aim is to develop solar power plants with a total installed capacity of 20 x 105 kilowatts (kW), generating around 45 x 108 kilowatt hours (Kwh) at full capacity. A number of large solar projects are under construction, such as the Noor Midelt photovoltaic hybrid plant, the Noor III concentrator plant and the Noor Tafilalet photovoltaic plant.

In addition to wind and solar potential, the outlook for hydrogen energy projects in Morocco is also very promising. In 2019, the Moroccan Ministry of Energy, Mines and the Environment (MEME) established a National Hydrogen Commission and developed a Roadmap on Green Hydrogen for 2021 to make Morocco a major producer and exporter of green hydrogen. 2021. The Moroccan Ministry of Energy, Mines and the Environment (MEME) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) decided to join forces to promote Morocco's green hydrogen economy. In the same year, Morocco signed a green hydrogen cooperation agreement with Portugal to align the priorities of its decarbonisation strategy and set up a joint working group. 2020 saw the signing of a green hydrogen cooperation agreement between Morocco and Germany and the linking of the Moroccan seaport of Tangier to the German port of Hamburg in 2021 for the transport of green hydrogen produced in Morocco. Morocco's hydrogen energy target is to produce 4% of the global market by 2030, supplying European plants with green hydrogen. As Morocco continues to invest in upgrading its renewable energy infrastructure, the country is proving to have the potential to produce green hydrogen at low cost. 2022 The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reports that Morocco is expected to rank third in the world in terms of green hydrogen production costs by 2050, behind China and Chile.