Publications /
Policy Paper

Back
Morocco’s Green Energy Opportunity
Authors
Laura El Katiri
October 18, 2016

Morocco’s energy landscape has been changing rapidly over the past decades. Alongside its own population growth, rising access rates to electricity as well as high rates of rural-urban migration and rising living standards, Morocco’s domestic energy needs have risen sharply since the early 1990s. This policy paper explores Morocco’s long-term energy options, focusing on “green” energy solutions that lie within Morocco’s natural competitive advantage. Using Morocco’s strategic assets – its strategic geographic location at the interception of Europe, North and West Africa and the Middle East; its political stability and its long-lasting, well-established relations with neighbouring Europe; its domestic market size, which is one of Africa’s largest markets for energy; and its abundance in its still under-utilised renewable energy resources solar and wind power – Morocco can benefit from a domestic clean energy transition. To maximise its use of these resources and to take up the vast opportunity Morocco faces in green energy – in particular in Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) – Morocco will need to add further policy focus on the area, and work actively to secure finance options, including from external sources. COP22 in Marrakech in November 2016 will in this context offer one important forum to further access to such funding while also working to open up future export markets, in particular Southern Europe.

RELATED CONTENT

  • September 30, 2025
    This episode explores Morocco’s green hydrogen offer, focusing on governance frameworks, ecosystem development, and flagship projects. It highlights strategic national initiatives and partnerships with industry stakeholders, while addressing technological advances, regulatory hurdles, a...
  • September 26, 2025
    This episode explores Morocco’s comprehensive energy transition strategy, emphasizing sovereignty, competitiveness, and decarbonization. It highlights infrastructure priorities, including grids, ports, storage, and LNG, and situates green hydrogen as a key lever within the energy mix. T...
  • September 24, 2025
    This episode explores how green hydrogen can drive Morocco’s energy transition and economic development, with a focus on export opportunities to Europe, integration into industrial value chains, and the development of supporting infrastructure. It highlights financing mechanisms and tec...
  • Authors
    Mehmet Öğütçü
    July 10, 2025
    I have been traveling to Morocco regularly—at least twice a year—for many years. But this time, the atmosphere in Rabat felt markedly different. I had the honor of addressing the Global Growth Congress, where I spoke on a topic that is rapidly becoming one of the most consequential issues of our time: Africa’s Energy Future: From Potential to Power.We were not merely discussing electrons and megawatts. We were dissecting sovereignty, resilience, global competition, and the future of ...
  • February 25, 2025
    شهد المغرب في السنوات الأخيرة اهتمامًا متزايدًا بتطوير الهيدروجين الأخضر، مستفيدًا من موارده الطبيعية وموقعه الاستراتيجي ليصبح فاعلًا رئيسيًا في هذا القطاع الواعد. ومع ذلك، يواجه المشروع تحديات اقتصاد وتقنية تتطلب استراتيجيات فعالة لتعزيز تنافسيته عالميًا. فكيف يمكن للمغرب تحقيق ريادة ف...
  • Authors
    September 24, 2024
    Green industrial policies are essential to enable the structural transformations needed for a successful transition to a low-carbon economy. Because of the pressing need to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, it is imperative to reallocate resources strategically from carbon-intensive sectors to sustainable, high-productivity industries. This transition is critical both to mitigate the impacts of climate change and to promote long-term economic growth and sustai ...
  • Authors
    February 13, 2024
    As a net energy importer seeking to improve its energy security, Morocco has stepped up initiatives to achieve a level of domestic energy sovereignty. This includes following guidelines for transitioning to cleaner energy sources, with an emphasis on diversification. This diversification extends to natural gas, solar and wind power, and innovative solutions such as green hydrogen. Morocco recognizes cooperation as a crucial element for the success of its strategies, as underlined by ...