Morocco’s Renewable Energy Push: A Solution to Europe’s Power Woes?

With ambitious projects like the Noor-Ouarzazate solar complex, the project to build the world’s longest submarine cable (3,800 km) to connect Morocco and the United Kingdom... The kingdom is dreaming big for renewable energies. To the point of considering exporting energy to Europe to help it get out of the energy crisis it is going through. "I think Morocco represents the best opportunity to get the European continent out of the dependence it has today on Russian gas," says Moundir Zniber, a Moroccan entrepreneur in the energy sector, CEO of Gaia Energy, one of the leaders of the renewable energy revolution in Morocco, in an interview with the BBC. According to his explanations, the kingdom has one of the best solar and wind resources in the world. "Regarding green hydrogen, our company is developing six projects that could meet 25% of the EU’s needs," he adds.

But is it wise to export green electricity before all of Morocco’s needs are met by renewable energies? The "priority" is for Moroccans to have access to the "cheapest" green energy, responds Leila Benali, Moroccan Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, when questioned on the issue. According to her, it is also necessary to take advantage of the "historic opportunity" to integrate the European energy market, as such opportunities could be an incentive for private investment, which is sorely lacking. Moez Cherif, from the World Bank, believes for his part that Morocco should both increase its exports of renewable energy and produce more for its domestic consumption. "The ideal would be to do both," he says. Hajar Khalmichi, climate change activist and member of the Mediterranean Youth Climate Network, does not share these views. Her wish, she will say, is to see Morocco meet all its national energy needs through renewable energies before thinking about exports.

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According to her, Morocco’s ambition to produce 52% of its electricity from renewable energies is not progressing. In addition, there has not been enough discussion about the origin of the rest, while it is trying to reduce its dependence on its power plants (gas, oil and coal).