- Morocco will double its power capacity to 27 GW by 2030, with 80% from renewables and MAD 120 billion investment.
- A record private deal includes a 1,400 km grid, desalination plants, and green hydrogen projects, creating 25,000+ jobs.
Morocco has unveiled a bold plan to increase its power generation capacity to 27 gigawatts (GW) by 2030, aligning with its role as a co-host of the FIFA World Cup that year. Energy Transition Minister Leila Benali announced the MAD 120 billion ($13 billion) expansion at a chemical industry forum in Rabat on Wednesday.
Renewable energy will contribute 80% of the new capacity, driven by public and private sector investments. As the North African country prepares for global visibility in 2030, it confronts climate-driven droughts and limited fossil fuel reserves, making energy resilience a national priority.
This week, Morocco signed the largest private investment deal in its history, connecting the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) with a consortium including the Mohammed VI Investment Fund, TAQA Morocco, and Nareva (the energy arm of royal holding Al Mada).
The agreement covers constructing a 1,400-kilometre high-voltage transmission line from Dakhla to Casablanca and four seawater desalination plants. These facilities will use 100% renewable energy and produce 900 million cubic metres of freshwater annually at under MAD 4.5 per cubic metre.
“For the first time, industry operators have access to an unlimited amount of energy at the most competitive prices,” said Industry Minister Ryad Mezzour.
The partnership will generate over 25,000 jobs, including 10,000 permanent roles post-commissioning.
Morocco will produce 4% of the world’s green hydrogen by 2030. State-owned OCP SA plans to manufacture 3 million tonnes of green ammonia by 2027, positioning it as the world’s largest carbon-free fertiliser producer.
Under its current administration, the government has authorised over 2,000 megawatts (MW) in renewable energy projects, representing MAD 19 billion ($1.9 billion) in investment and creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
Morocco will invest MAD 30 billion ($3 billion) in modernising its national grid by 2030, excluding an additional 3GW southern-to-central power link. For the first time, the private sector can invest in electricity infrastructure.
The government will add over 9GW of renewable capacity between 2023 and 2027, backed by MAD 90 billion ($9 billion) in funding. Current renewable capacity stands at 5.4GW, supplying 20% of national demand and covering 38% of electricity consumption.
The Noor Ouarzazate complex, with 580MW of solar capacity, is one of the world’s largest concentrated solar plants.