Morocco Unveils $10 Billion Desert Renewable Energy Plan

Wind power will be at the heart of this strategy. Sector giants, such as the Emirati company "Masdar" or Saudi companies, are expected to develop these installations. The total investment could reach $10 billion. A first project, still secret, should see the light of day as early as next year.

The choice of the desert is not insignificant. The region benefits from sunshine and winds conducive to the development of solar and wind energy. Solar power plants, such as "Noor Laâyoune 1" and "Noor Boujdour 1", are already in service, and other projects are underway. On the wind side, four parks are already operational: "Tarfaya", "Aftissat", "Laâyoune" and "Akhfennir". Two additional projects, "Boujdour" and "Tiskrad", should see the light of day soon.

Morocco’s objective is clear: to bring the share of clean electricity to 52% by 2030. These projects in the desert are a pillar of this ambition.

But not all of Morocco’s energy adventures are successful. The Greek company "Energean" is about to leave the country, after disappointing results in the Anchois offshore field. The drilling was not profitable and the expected gas reserves were not found. "Energean" had bet on 1.39 trillion cubic feet of gas, but the preliminary data dashed its hopes.