- Morocco is emerging as a notable exception, pressing ahead with solar-powered farming and green hydrogen investments.
- Morocco’s move aligns with similar efforts across Europe; Italy, for instance, has committed $1.84 billion to such projects, and the United Kingdom is providing grants for solar farming equipment through a dedicated agricultural fund.
As global momentum toward clean energy slows, Morocco is emerging as a notable exception, pressing ahead with solar-powered farming and green hydrogen investments.
According to the newly released Renewables 2025 Global Status Report, Morocco was one of only three countries, alongside Italy and Portugal, to launch new renewable energy support programs in the agriculture sector in 2024.
The North African country introduced a national initiative to help farmers acquire solar-powered irrigation pumps. The aim is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels in agriculture while promoting eco-friendly practices.
This effort falls under a wider trend known as “agrivoltaics,” which integrates solar energy production with active farming on the same land.
Morocco’s move aligns with similar efforts across Europe; Italy, for instance, has committed $1.84 billion to such projects, and the United Kingdom is providing grants for solar farming equipment through a dedicated agricultural fund.
In addition to reshaping its farming landscape, Morocco is also stepping up its commitment to green hydrogen. It is among a small group of nations, including India, Chile, and Oman, taking significant steps to secure land for hydrogen projects, even as global investment in the sector fell by 42 per cent last year.
While several governments remain hesitant due to concerns over cost and technological readiness, Morocco is doubling down on its long-term strategy, determined to remain at the forefront of renewable innovation.
Globally, 2024 was a landmark year for clean energy, with 740 gigawatts of renewable capacity added, accounting for more than 80 per cent of new electricity generation. Solar power led the growth. However, despite the surge, the world is still far off track from the COP28 target of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030.
Progress has been uneven. The report warns that some countries, notably the UK, New Zealand, and the United States, are backtracking on previous climate commitments. The UK scrapped its planned 2035 ban on new gas boilers, while New Zealand resumed offshore fossil fuel exploration.
Meanwhile, only five countries, unnamed in the report, have comprehensive climate policies that cover all major energy-consuming sectors: transportation, buildings, agriculture, and industry. Most others are still approaching climate policy in fragmented, siloed ways.
Morocco, a member of the Renewables 21st Century Policy Network alongside Germany, Brazil, and South Korea, appears committed to integrating food security, clean energy, and climate action into a unified national strategy, even as others waver.