Renewable Energy: Morocco, Leader of Euro-African Energy Integration, French Media

Paris - Morocco is positioning itself as a leader of African energy integration in the field of renewable energy, said on Monday "La Tribune Afrique", a monthly dedicated to African news and belonging to the French economic newspaper "La Tribune". Since 2009, Morocco has embarked on a large-scale energy transformation to bring the share of renewable energy to 52% by 2030, underlined the French media outlet in an article posted on its website. To date, the integrated programs developed in Morocco have enabled it to install 3,685 MW of electrical power, including 700 MW for solar energy, 1,215 MW for wind energy and 1,770 MW for hydroelectric energy, noted La Tribune Afrique, which quoted data from the Moroccan Renewable Energy Agency (Masen). The share of renewable energy currently represents 34% of the installed electrical power, according to Rachid Bayed, director of the Masen operations division.

At the end of 2019, Morocco had around fifteen projects, including the Noor Ouarzazate solar project (580 MW), Tarfaya (301 MW), Aftissat (200 MW), and Akhfennir 1 & 2 (200 MW). Currently, Masen is carrying out the Noor Midelt I (800 MW) and Noor Midelt II (800MW) projects which will support the kingdom's solar ambitions, in addition to the 850 MW integrated wind power plan which should enable Morocco to reach 42% of renewable energy by 2020 and 52% in 2030, it recalled. The Moroccan energy ambitions are far from being limited to national borders, it said, noting that the country is positioned as a hub for renewable energy in the continent.